complex with a state-of-the-art shelter.

Housing Minister Nelson Bascome said the current North Street shelter, which can house up to 86 homeless people, was out of date.

He will sit down with the Salvation Army and an anonymous philanthropist to discuss building a new shelter which would also feature educational and work programmes.

He said there was a pressing need for housing for single men -- and the problem could get worse if the Canadian Hotel, which caters for that market, closes for renovations.

Mr. Bascome said: "This area of housing is one of our biggest challenges. I have a meeting with a philanthropist and also the Salvation Army.

"The philanthropist is very interested in people who live on the street. But we are going to make a broader appeal to the business community.

"We have had in the recent past a number of units out there that cater to single men, little apartments, studios and the Canadian Hotel. It's just the Canadian Hotel now.'' Mr. Bascome said it was impossible at this point to say how many people the new complex would house.

He said: "Right now we are looking at developing such a unit. Canadian Hotels is in a pretty poor condition. It needs renovation -- the landlord wants to do that.

"That will be another critical miss to our housing stock -- around 60 men are there. If that place closed down tomorrow that is another 60 we would have to find a place for.

"And there are around 80 at the Salvation Army. The 2000 Census is needed so we have figures to work with so we can project ahead.

"We are looking at developing. The shelter on Parsons Road is old -- it has probably outlived its life. And when it was put there it was supposed to be temporary.

"We need not only a building but a programme as well. A number of these individuals walk about the City of Hamilton. Quite a number are not employed.

"You need to have not only a place for them to sleep but somewhere they can get some education, teach them some basic skills and get them some employment as well -- licking stamps or stuffing envelopes.

"I am looking at something more along the lines of the YMCA. That type of thing where you have different types of shelter.

"One might be bedsitters, another might just have rooms while another would be cots.'' Salvation Army Divisional Commander Major Woody Hale said: "We have had preliminary negotiations about developing new facilities. The size has yet to be determined.'' HOMELESS HSG