Hamilton’s Committee of Adjustment will not make a decision on the Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters (HATS) variance application to permit the non-profit to operate 13 individual tiny shelter units as transitional housing for unhoused individuals discharged from area hospitals.
In an email notice distributed today, Planning Technician Brian Lee announced the postponement: “Application A-26:048 (205 Cannon Street East, Hamilton) has been tabled prior to the hearing and will not be heard at the April 2nd, 2026 Committee of Adjustment meeting.”
The City of Hamilton has not disclosed the reason for the tabling.
As first reported by TPR, HATS has completed construction on 16 tiny units at the rear of 205 Cannon Street East. The project requires City approval of seven minor variances before the first resident can move in.
The most significant variance is seeking a new definition for “Emergency Shelter” in Hamilton’s zoning bylaw. Current city bylaws define a shelter as a single, permanent building housing four or more people. HATS is seeking a variance to allow for individual, detached cabins to meet this definition. Additionally, the project requires relief from a rule mandating a 300-metre separation between shelters; another facility is currently located within 150 metres of the Cannon Street site.
Other variances related to site design and setbacks.
The HATS proposal represents a significant shift from the organization’s original vision of a general low-barrier shelter. Operating as a “short-stay respite pilot program,” the site targets a specific population: individuals recovering from hospitalization who lack stable housing.
Under an agreement with The HUB, which will oversee daily operations, the village will house up to 13 residents at a time. The program aims to provide a three-to-six-month transitional window, allowing individuals to heal while staff assist them to secure permanent housing solutions.
The current site at the corner of Cannon and Wellington is the fourth location proposed by HATS since 2021. Previous proposed locations at Bay Street North, Strachan Street, and Barton Street were all abandoned following a mix of neighborhood opposition, shifting municipal requirements, and site suitability issues.
The Committee of Adjustment meets approximately once every three weeks. The city has not stated when the application will be rescheduled. Given the typical committee meeting schedule, HATS will not be operational until at least late May.
The City of Hamilton is asking those who submitted comments on the variance to monitor its website for the new hearing date. Officials have notified prior commenters that they must resubmit remarks; the municipality will not automatically carry forward comments submitted before the postponement.
Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch says he is working with HATS to navigate the process.
“I’ve talked to the folks at HATS. I’ve spoken to people in the community,” Kroetsch said. “In terms of the delay. It’s not great.”
“I presume it will now come forward in May, and hopefully that’s the end of the delays as far as I know,” Kroetsch continued. “Delays are not nice, especially when people are working this hard for this long.”
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Published: March 23, 2026
Last updated: March 23, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman
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