City Fears Funding Loss Without Tent Cities

This is a release from the City of Ottawa:

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Subject / Objet Sprung Structure Description & Analysis Date: July 9, 2024

This briefing note is to provide Council with a more detailed understanding of Sprung  Structures that are being explored to provide emergency welcoming and additional  transitional housing capacity to accommodate the unprecedented levels of irregular  migration in Ottawa. Further, the note outlines the factors that were considered in  identifying Sprung Structures as the preferred rapid construction option. Not pursuing the  development of Sprung Structures could result in continued and expanded use of  community centres as Physical Distancing-Emergency Overflow Centres. Not pursuing  the Sprung Structures could jeopardize up to $185 million of provincial and federal funding  which is critical to support the City’s response to homelessness until 2026.

BACKGROUND

On July 12, 2023, Ottawa City Council approved the Integrated Transition to Housing  Strategy (ITHS). The ITHS is comprised of short, medium and long-term initiatives to  support single adult shelter clients to transition to housing, while addressing immediate  pressures in the shelter system, and exit the operation of Physical Distancing-Emergency  Overflow Centres (PD-EOCs) in City-owned recreational facilities.

On November 22, 2023, City Council approved a motion brought forward by the  Emergency Shelter Crisis Taskforce directing staff “to actively pursue the option of a  Sprung Structure or other semi-permanent facility.” Further, at the June 26, Community  and Social Services Committee meeting, staff were directed to provide more information  about Sprung Structures, including examples of interior designs for these buildings.  Each Sprung Structure features aluminum arches that are integrally connected to an all weather outer architectural membrane. These semi-permanent structures are not like  emergency tents used in disaster response. Interiors and exteriors are customizable.  Exteriors come in a variety of colours with different accessories, including doors, windows,  canopies, vestibules, covered walkway systems, connecting corridors, glazing walls, and  graphic enhancements. The interiors are column free, allowing for flexible interior space  planning that can meet a variety of operational requirements. Interiors can be constructed  with washrooms, offices, kitchens and sleeping space. The structures are designed to be  fully compliant with local building and fire codes.

Sprung Structures have been utilized locally and across North America for many different  uses, including recreation centres, hospital emergency wings, banquet halls, office  buildings, churches, and concert halls. For pictures and videos of example interiors and  exteriors, please consult:

• Compilation of photos from various Sprung Structure projects

• Sprung Structures: Homeless Navigation Centres

• Sprung Structures: Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus

• Sprung Structure: Homeless Navigation Centre Solutions

ANALYSIS

To identify the preferred model to pursue, staff completed an options analysis that  considered a number of rapid construction techniques, and evaluated them based on a  series of construction, maintenance and operating criteria. These considerations included  the following:

1. Rapid construction: Time is of the essence for this initiative to meet the  unprecedented inflow of newcomers into the City. Sprung Structures were  prioritized as they can be constructed quickly. Following building approvals, Sprung  Structures can be constructed at a rate of 500 to 2,000 square feet per day,  depending on customized options, complete with finished interior.

2. Purpose built for operational needs with required amenities: Sprung Structures  are fully customizable and would be designed to provide the required capacity, with  ability to scale up for overflow, as well as provide the amenities required under the  Ottawa Transitional Housing Program Standards. The result is a comfortable, safe  and client-friendly space. It can also be adjusted to conform to land parcel  dimensions and potential constraints.

3. Flexibility and ability to repurpose: Needs change over time and may require that  spaces be reconfigured to meet evolving demand. With the clear span interior, the  space could easily be reconfigured in the future. For example, sleeping pods could  be reconfigured to open space to adapt to different operating models. Similarly, if no  longer needed for transitional housing, the structures could serve other City needs  such as a community centre, library and/or emergency response.

4. Cost effective: Overall costs including construction costs, operating and lifecycle  costs were also considered. The initial project costs are anticipated to be  comparable to other rapid construction models and lower than traditional  construction. The ongoing maintenance and lifecycle costs are anticipated to be  lower due to centralized core building systems. Sprung Structures come with a 25- year pro-rated warranty, and the aluminum substructure has a 50-year pro-rated  warranty.

5. Proven experience locally, and in serving vulnerable populations: Sprung  Structures are used in Toronto for four respite centres, and in Ottawa by the Civic

Hospital for an Emergency Response Centre. Sprung Structures have been used by  over 80 communities in the United States to provide homeless navigation centres.  This supports the design and creation of spaces that apply best practice and  industry specific considerations.

CONCLUSION

Ottawa’s single adult shelter system is operating over capacity with more than 360 single  men and women staying in temporary Physical Distancing-Emergency Overflow Centres  operating out of City owned recreational facilities. Immigration Refugee and Citizenship  Canada (IRCC) has indicated that they anticipate the inflow of newcomers seen  throughout 2023 will continue.

Housing & Homelessness Services and the Realty Initiatives & Development unit have  been actively exploring private market opportunities for facilities that can be purchased  and/or leased and have found that feasible, available options will not be sufficient to meet  the required demand in the necessary timelines. In addition to Sprung Structures, the City  and partners are currently pursuing the conversion of an office to transitional housing at  230 Queen Street, and the purchase of a former convent at 1754 St. Joseph Boulevard.

Without the additional flexibility and capacity provided by Sprung Structures, the City will  need to continue, and expand its use of recreation and community centres across the city.  As stipulated in the Integrated Transition to Housing Strategy, one of the criteria used to  identify City facilities for emergency use is the prioritization of facilities across the City that  have not previously been used for Physical Distancing-Emergency Overflow Centres to  integrate these services into neighbourhoods where they have not previously been  located.

Further, the timely development of an option such as Sprung Structures is a critical step in  unlocking significant federal and provincial funding. In March 2024, the Government of  Ontario announced a new agreement with the City of Ottawa which includes $120 million  of new funding over 3 years for shelter services. This funding is contingent on the receipt  of federal funding to address the shelter needs of newcomers.

The City has been in active discussions with the Federal Government for approximately  $105 million to fund the development and operations of a Newcomer Reception Centre  model over 2 years. This funding would satisfy the conditional provincial funding  requirement, however, the City is required to apply the funding quickly and for the strict  purpose of newcomer transitional supports. It cannot be used for permanent housing. The  installation and operationalization of Sprung Structures is considered the best and most  viable option to fulfill the requirements for both the provincial and federal funding within the  required timelines and is the most cost effective considering those timelines.

Staff continue to actively move forward with project planning. An in-depth assessment of  three potential City parcels for Sprung Structures is underway, and staff are exploring  procurement processes and facility requirements. Staff will work with community partners  to inform the design of the buildings, including internal set-up.

Sincerely,

Clara Freire

General Manager

Community and Social Services

cc. Wendy Stephanson, City Manager

Senior Leadership Team

Community and Social Services Departmental Leadership team

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