SaltToday

Tiny home housing homeless man in the woods torn down

Enough with the one sided story- why don't you just pull out the violin Damery and play the pity story. Godin was given time to get his personal effects out of the structure and you both knew this was going to happen at some point in time because it is illegal. So don't play the victim. The city was more than patient and accommodating in this circumstance as noted by it taking approx 6-8 wks before it was removed. You can't convince me that the city did not have dialogue with the son-in-law over the course of that time. And what was supposed to happen after winter Damery- he should continue to live there in a tent until you build him another tiny home next winter. I think the son-in-law should pay for him to have a room somewhere in the city until maybe he can get a room at the Norfolk shelter. They have some rooms that are not shared in that facility where he could be on his own. You both thumbed your noses at the city and paid the price for that.

- Shirley Szilvasy##

Tiny home housing homeless man in the woods torn down

I don’t agree with people living in the woods in encampments. And I’m sure there is more to this story. I do however quite clearly recall from the original story about this case that the son who built the structure, that he made it very clear that if the day came that it had to be removed that he wanted to be able to remove it and salvage it, and that he didn’t want to put that burden on the city. Why wasn’t he given that opportunity?

- BH6

Tiny home housing homeless man in the woods torn down

Why don't you just build the tiny home on your own property, Damery? The article notes that "Godin is unable to stay with family or in shared shelter spaces." If that's because he's potentially dangerous, having him stay in a public space is not a good option. If anyone can simply build a home on public land, all the public land will disappear.

- DiscoDave

Guelph’s 2026 property tax hike finalized at 7.87 per cent

This increase compared to other cities increases is disgusting. Our council are totally out of control. Can’t wait till next election to show my displeasure. 👎👎

- Tom Beale

Tiny home housing homeless man in the woods torn down

He demonsttrated his aggressiveness to bylaw and the Police from the sounds of the story. I think there is an element of drug addiction with this person as well and not just schizophrenia.

- Shirley Szilvasy##

Tiny home housing homeless man in the woods torn down

There is no political will in Guelph.Most of the time the city defers to the county who have done nothing since the Symposium.The Guelph Tiny Homes Coalition have been trying and getting nowhere with city or county.

- Gruntfutak

Guelph’s 2026 property tax hike finalized at 7.87 per cent

"Guelph’s 2026 property tax hike finalized at 7.87 per cent"My vote in October finalized at Vote Out All Incumbents!

- Royal City Rabble Rouser

Tiny home housing homeless man in the woods torn down

I am sure the city had dialogue with the son in law and the person in the tiny house. They would have been given warning of when to vacate before the demolition date. It appears Damery and Godin chose to ignore it. So the city has not other choice than to proceed.

- Shirley Szilvasy##

Tiny home housing homeless man in the woods torn down

Shirley - which article are you reading?Did you miss this bit..."It just came out of nowhere,” Damery said.“They showed up in the morning basically ordering him out of the structure"

- Gruntfutak

Tiny home housing homeless man in the woods torn down

Son in Law is sketchy and thinks rules don’t apply to him. I wouldn’t hire him as a contractor. He brought it upon himself by going to the media in the first place to tell everyone. There would have been notice given well before the demolition and a solution was presented even if not the solution they wanted.

- SMR64

Tiny home housing homeless man in the woods torn down

C-O-M-P-A-S-S-I-O-N. Obviously you were absent the day they were handing it out.

- 1SPOOK

Tiny home housing homeless man in the woods torn down

My first thought too. I am puzzled why the responsibility has seemingly been passed onto the public/3rd party agencies, etc.

- Doug Frank

Council votes down raises, looks to freeze pay next term

I worked all my life in private companies and never got a raise I did not deserve, and had an annual review before I got the raise.Until council can get the budget down to a reasonable increase (around the CPI increase) they should not be rewarded.

- Gruntfutak

Guelph’s 2026 property tax hike finalized at 7.87 per cent

Start saying goodbye to middle class in Guelph. Only upper class will be able to afford to own houses in Guelph.

- EllaK

Guelph’s 2026 property tax hike finalized at 7.87 per cent

My family doesn't use the Library,so why should we have to pay for it???? It should be users only that have to pay the tax increase!!!! Can't afford to live in Guelph anymore more!!! The Mayor and city council should be ashamed for what they have done to our once great City!!! Glad the elections are coming up!!!

- Donald Hood

Tiny home housing homeless man in the woods torn down

This is unacceptable. The city was aware that if it was to be torn down that they contact the son-in-law, but they didn't. Of course Mr. Godin would act aggressively as his home was being torn down. By-law received a complaint by someone and that is why they and the police came. By-law works on a complaint base approach. We have a homeless problem yet nobody in our county or city is doing anything concrete. We have a drill Hall downtown sitting empty, we have other examples by other communities doing something like the Better tent city. By-law acted on a complaint of the most vulnerable, but then are told by Council to take a blind eye on other by-law infractions for those of influence.Compassion seems to be lacking in our city.

- Lorraine Pagnan

Guelph’s 2026 property tax hike finalized at 7.87 per cent

Remember; the "city portion" of the overall property tax increase is STILL higher than the entire property taxes before 2022.Before this present term of Mayor and City Council; property taxes were usually between 1% - 3%.

- Alec Purves

Council votes down raises, looks to freeze pay next term

They knew what the job entailed when they ran for office. I'm sure someone on ODSP or O/W would be quite happy getting the salary council does now.

- Steve Spyderman

Tiny home housing homeless man in the woods torn down

Robert Godin needs a quiet place to live and mental health support.Many others also need a quiet place to live while they get back on their feet.Is it possible to have two kinds of supportive housing?

- Tango Golf

Tiny home housing homeless man in the woods torn down

But it's o.k. for homeless people to erect tents and bring in propane tanks, and any other goods to "live" there? Regardless they too are living on public land wherever they deem fit. I don't see anyone moving those people to other accommodations...perhaps because there are no other options available?

- OldCityGal