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He was told by city hall’s homeless prevention manager earlier this year there’s been little desire expressed by people who need housing to move into such a hut, which offers about 5.6 square metres of space. It doesn’t have a washroom, kitchen or heat.

But this week, van Holst brought his pitch back and got backing from community and protective services committee chair Shawn Lewis.

Wednesday, politicians voted 5-0 to recommend city staff develop a plan for a small Conestoga hut pilot. That goes to full council March 2. If it’s approved, the details will still come back for a vote before any huts are built.

“I see these as a tool, stepping between homelessness . . . and being ready to move into an apartment, which we know not everybody is,” Lewis said. “I just think it’s important that we try this.”

Coun. Phil Squire sees the hut as a poor alternative to a safe, affordable place to live.

“I’m still not seeing this whole hut idea as a solution . . . I want to know it’s something that’s going to lead to something better,” he said.

Lazenby agrees, suggesting the idea may be rooted in taking action that “feels good,” because the huts may move people out of doorways, but it’s not a solution, she says.

“It is just frustrating,” she said. “I think people (politicians) are feeling this is an emergency and they’re grasping at things they think will work.”

Thousands of Londoners are waiting for affordable housing and estimates range into the hundreds of the number of people homeless on the street, an issue explored by The Free Press in its Face It series examining employment, housing and addiction issues trouble London.