Numerous builders interested in city’s shelter village project

There’s a lot of interest in the City of Thunder Bay’s request for proposals (RFP) to supply housing units for the shelter “village” planned for the Kaministiquia River Heritage Park.

More than two dozen companies are registered in the bidding system to get access to the RFP documents.

These parties include numerous suppliers of modular housing units from the Thunder Bay area and across Canada.

Companies wishing to submit an actual bid for the project have until June 11 to do so, and must demonstrate experience in supplying, delivering and installing modular units on a large scale for similar developments.

After city council approved the $5.5 million project last month following multiple debates over where it should be situated, illustrations of the project were made public, and more details of what the housing units and common areas will look like were disclosed in the RFP.

The city has budgeted $3 million for a minimum of 80 units suitable for accommodating up to 100 individuals.

Most of the units will be single occupancy, but some could be for use by couples.

The city is also requesting bidders to include a provisional lump sum cost estimate for providing an additional 20 single units.

Between five and 10 per cent of the complex must be barrier-free accessible.

The RFP specifies that the dimensions of the heated, air-conditioned private sleeping units be 8′ x 13’4″ X 10′ (W x L x H).

A central community hub will contain cooking and food prep counters, a residential-grade oven, refrigerators and microwaves, dining tables and chairs, and couches and other seating, while washroom and shower facilities will comprise at least six units and a minimum of four washer/dryer pairs capable of washing bedding sets.

The city wants proponents to incorporate Indigenous design concepts in the village, and to explain how they would engage and collaborate with Indigenous stakeholders to ensure the inclusion of culturally-appropriate elements.

Deadlines are relatively tight.

The city expects to award the contract by June 24, or about four weeks from now, and to have on-site delivery and installation between August and October to allow for partial occupancy .

All units must be installed and operational no later than December 31. – tbnewswatch.com

article website here

…The city wants proponents to incorporate Indigenous design concepts in the village, and to explain how they would engage and collaborate with Indigenous stakeholders to ensure the inclusion of culturally-appropriate elements….

Why?  When anyone mentions that the majority of the ‘unhoused/addicted/mentally-ill’ population are FNs, they are quickly rebuffed claiming that is just not true. Then the accusation of racism rears its ugly head.

But if it was not true, then why the Indigenous Design Concepts? Design the shelter ‘village’ as an Indigenous style of village?   And what would that be exactly?

From the photos and videos of remote northern  FN communities that I have see, they look like any other small remote community.  Buildings, roads, trees and water  Do any of them contain Indigenous Design Concepts? Who knows?  Is it tied to the funding requirements?  No Indigenous Design Concepts, no money.

I believe the residents of those communities are more interested in crime, education,  state of housing, health and medical service, clean drinking water, rampant drug use  and fire protection.  Not unlike every other community in the province or country.   Not Indigenous Design Concepts.

I am beginning to think that the only Indigenous Design Concepts that the FNs are exposed to are found here in Thunder Bay.  Not on any FN community.

Just spend the money that would be used to create these Indigenous Design Concepts into services that will help the people that will be living in this village to get clean and sober, get mentally stable, get an education, learn a trade  and become a productive member of the community.  A role model.

This village is only temporary. Five years.  Right? Hahhahahahahaha. Ya, right.

This village will still be their in 10 years with most of the same people living there  from day one.  Why not? They will have everything they need.   What is there to gain by leaving?  Nothing.

In fact, I predict that there will be more of these villages built around the city.