This fundraiser hopes to get people out of tents and into safe, warm shelters

A housing advocate in St. John's hopes to raise more than $20,000 for Newfoundland and Labrador's first temporary shelter model unit.

Mark Wilson says it could lead to a cost efficient way of providing homeless people with safety and dignity.

Communities in Ontario are already using the structures in place of traditional shelters, Wilson said, and it's a far better option than sleeping outside in a tent.

"It's eightby 13 feet. It's got a bed, it's got a desk, it hooks up to the power, it keeps people warm," he said.

The units are made from old shipping containers thatare insulated and wired, and in Wilson's words, they're basically indestructible.

"They provide a bedroom that's safe. You get a key or you can use the keypad to get in," he said."So it gives folks that are unhoused that opportunity to have autonomy, and it gives them the opportunity to feel safe in their own space."

In Waterloo, Ont., 50 of the structures have been built in one area.

There's a communal kitchen and a bathroom facility nearby.

We can leverage this concept and this technology and bring it to the people of Newfoundland, who truly care. And from that we can find a better solution.- Mark Wilson

It's similar to a rooming house, without the house.

That's what Wilson would eventually like to see in St. John's.

He isn't sure where it would be, but for nowhe'sfocused on bringing a single unit to the province with the hopes of starting aconversation.

"This is a demonstration to show what the best solution is in other places," he said.

"We can leverage this concept and this technology and bring it to the people of Newfoundland, who truly care. And from that we can find a better solution."

Wilson istravelling to Ontario for the holidays, andhe plans to visit the factory where the shelters are built.

He's going to take a tour and visit some of the communities where the units are already in use to see how they're working first-hand.

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