A Small Space Built for Dignity 

About Better Than a Tent

“Better Than a Tent” is a housing initiative developed in partnership with the City of Owen Sound, the County of Grey, and Safe and Sound to create scalable, dignified emergency shelter units for people experiencing homelessness. Inspired by similar programs in Kitchener, the project aimed to demonstrate what’s possible when communities invest in thoughtful, durable shelter design rather than temporary fixes.

Build Hope Modular brought together a network of partners to make the shelter possible, including Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard for interior wall panels, Pilkington Truss and Building Supply for lumber, Ridgeway Metal Forming Inc. for roofing and exterior steel cladding, MDL Door Systems for the front door, Williams HVAC for heating and cooling, Vipeq Canada for cork-shield flooring, Can-Save for closet organization, LaRoche Electric for electrical, Straw Hat Renovations for construction, and PlanForge for hut design and planning.

The Goal: From Blueprint to Bunkie in No Time

Jason led the construction of the “Better Than a Tent” prototype unit, working alongside a network of local partners to take the concept from plans to a fully functional bunkie in time for “The Coldest Night of the Year” campaign on February 28, 2026—an annual fundraiser for homelessness where Owen Sound Mayor Ruth Lovell spent the night in the completed unit to raise community awareness.

The Challenge: The Space Must be Durable and Dignified

Building a temporary shelter that works is harder than it sounds. The unit needed to sit between emergency shelters and permanent housing—affordable enough to build at scale, durable enough to survive Canadian winters, and livable enough to feel genuinely humane rather than just functional.

As Jason Harrison explained, "One of the biggest challenges is balancing cost with durability. Many temporary solutions degrade quickly, are difficult to clean, or don't survive the Canadian weather. There's also the challenge of creating spaces that feel safe and humane—not just functional."

The 12' × 8' bunkie spec was ambitious given those constraints: fully spray-foam insulated walls and floor, an HVAC heat/AC pump, exterior steel cladding, interior electrical, a bed, and a closet organizer—all within a tight budget and an even tighter timeline.

The Solution: Interior Walls That Earn Their Keep

Trusscore stood out as the right choice for the interior walls for reasons that go beyond just material specs. As Jason put it: "Trusscore stood out because of its durability, ease of installation, and clean finish. It aligns well with our goal of creating a low-maintenance, long-lasting interior system that can handle high use. Plus, we can wash it down without any issues."

In a small living unit that could be occupied by many different people over its lifespan—and potentially moved between locations—the ability to quickly and thoroughly clean the interior is critical.  A surface that can be wiped down with no concern about water damage, surface degradation, or bacteria taking hold doesn't just save maintenance time; it supports the health and safety of whoever is living there.

The bright white finish also does something that matters a lot in a compact space: it makes the interior feel open and welcoming. "The product allows for a bright, cleanable interior that resists moisture and damage, which is critical in a small living environment," Jason noted. "It helps elevate the space from 'temporary shelter' to something that feels more like a proper living unit."

The Outcome: A Proof of Concept That's Ready to Scale

The first unit was completed and delivered ahead of the February 28 event, where it drew significant attention—not just from the mayor who spent the night in it, but from municipalities and community organizations looking for practical solutions to the housing crisis.

"It turned out amazing, and we are looking to book it at other events and to have it available for tours for other towns and municipalities," Tim VanDolder of Pilkington Truss and Building Supply reported after the event. "Lots of great feedback."

The broader goal is to refine the model and produce at scale to support broader community needs. For that to be viable, every material and system in the design needs to be repeatable, manageable, and built to last. Trusscore meets that bar. As Jason described the prototype's role: "This first unit is a proof of concept. It allows us to test design, materials, and assembly while also demonstrating to municipalities and partners what's possible. From here, the goal is to refine the model and scale production to support broader community needs."