Group getting together to build igloos for the homeless

A group of citizens will be gathering this winter to put together low-cost huts for the homeless. 

The initiative is the idea of John MacIsaac, who is part of a local group that tries to speak up locally for the homeless.  

MacIsaac has already created a small tent-like structure that has been put to use already in November.  Word has been getting out about his idea and now a handful of local residents have decided to help out. 

A building event will take place at an anonymous location this weekend.  

MacIsaac, who says the individual tents cost about $150 to make, is excited about the support, as a group effort from Community Helpjng Community-North Bay. 

"The support has been overwhelming," said MacIsaac, who is a former drug addict who says he knows what it's like to be homeless.  

"Since the story has gotten out and people have heard about it, the amount of support or donations coming in, it is just so heartwarming, I can't describe it." 

Thanks to donations, MacIsaac expects they have enough funds to build a total of 24 huts before the end of the month. 

"We have 10 committed and ready to be put into action and then we have another number of commitments coming in for a hut for a homeless person this Christmas," he said. 

While more homeless beds will be available in a new warming centre located in downtown North Bay in the old gd2go building, MacIsaac claims the need for these tents will always be there. 

See related: Second warming centre to open in the city

"A lot of people who suffer drug addiction and mental illness they have a hard time accessing these resources due to violent behaviours or a number of reasons," he said. 

"So they generally opt not to go to these places because they have zero tolerance for drug use but if these are the people we are trying to help, we need to have a tolerance for them.  There needs to be an open door policy." 

MacIsaac says through media and social media his tents have created attention around the province as organizations from places such as Toronto, Brantford and London have reached out to find out more about his homeless tents.  

He plans to make a create a video to show how to make these inexpensive huts so areas far away from North Bay can benefit too. 

MacIsaac will not say where the tents will be set up and he admits he's concerned that these huts could breach a local bylaw.  He's hoping that's not the case. 

"Everyone sees there is a real need for this whether there are permissions or not."