In a push to connect art and creativity to some of those experiencing chronic homelessness in Waterloo Region, Tiny City Makers, the arts program connected with A Better Tent City (ABTC), has announced almost $100,000 in funding through a new provincial grant.
The announcement was made at a community art market event on Saturday, May 2, with the funds set to come from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).
The grant is set to help expand resident-focused arts programming, which works to create opportunities for “healing, creative self-expression, skill-building and community connection.”
“I’m so proud of the care and community that A Better Tent City has built over the years. I’ve seen firsthand how this work has grown into something truly meaningful for the people it supports,” said Aislinn Clancy, MPP for Kitchener Centre, who made the announcement.
“It’s about making sure people have what they need to feel supported and to move forward with dignity. Initiatives like this reflect the kind of compassionate, community-driven approach that makes our region stronger.”
Tiny City Makers is described as an arts-based social enterprise and therapeutic program co-developed with residents of ABTC.
It said that through workshops, collaborations and public-facing initiatives, the program creates opportunities for residents to develop artistic practice, earn income, and share their work with the wider community.
“Tiny City Makers has created a beautiful opportunity to connect the broader community to A Better Tent City,” said Zoe Miller, program lead and Community Development Lead at The Community Company.
“Residents thoroughly enjoy the workshops, take pride in their creations, delight in learning new skills and expressing themselves creatively. Support for this program helps sustain a creative community that brings dignity, stability and opportunity to people living at A Better Tent City.”
Since its launch, Tiny City Makers has engaged more than 60 participants, both residents and visitors to ABTC. The program has facilitated more than 320 hours of art-making on-site.
The OTF is an agency of the Ontario government whose mission is to “build healthy and vibrant communities across the province.”
Across 2025 and 2026, OTF stated that it’s invested nearly $107 million into 746 community projects.
Comments