SvN's Founding Principal John van Nostrand has dedicated much of his career to delivering affordable housing globally and in Toronto. Passionate about finding solutions to help resolve the unsheltered crisis in Toronto, he currently chairs the not-for-profit Two Steps Home (2SH) with a team that includes volunteer architects, engineers, carpenters, and retired public servants, with decades of collective experience working in affordable and supportive housing.

Two Steps Home aims to raise $2.5 million to build 50 cabins on city-owned land to house homeless people until permanent housing becomes available. The 10-square-metre cabins will be built around communal spaces for cooking, cleaning, and community meetings. With winter approaching and many Torontonians in need of shelter, we are once again reminded of the acute need to address homelessness in our city.

They presented the Two Steps Home proposal for cabin communities at the fundraiser launch event at Toronto's Royal Theatre this past Wednesday. The event featured a documentary by Zack Russell on homeless shelters, featuring Khaleel Sievwright, a director of 2SH and carpenter who built temporary shelters for people experiencing homelessness during the global pandemic.

As part of our commitment to building inclusive cities, SvN will work with Two Steps Home to create a regenerative solution to our city's homelessness crisis. At the Interior Design Show in January, SvN will launch an exhibition entitled "Housing the Unhoused" to raise awareness and funds to realize the 2SH cabin project by showcasing this ambitious pilot program bringing together nonprofits and home builders to supply temporary shelter and community support for those requiring a warm bed while transitioning toward more permanent housing.

Architect hopes cabin community will help solve Toronto's homelessness crisis - CBC News