Before Brent's Place was a project, Brent was a person.
He was a friend. A mentor. A volunteer. A skilled tradesman. A man with an infectious sense of humour and an unwavering belief in helping others, even when he himself had almost nothing.
If you met Brent, you may never have guessed he was experiencing homelessness. He was always clean shaven, his hair neatly trimmed beneath the well-worn baseball cap he rarely took off. Across the back of that cap were the words "Guaranteed Tough."
Nothing could have described him more perfectly. For some time, Brent had been living with advanced, terminal esophageal cancer, navigating a deeply painful illness whilst homeless.
Ryan met Brent on a freezing night in 2024. Brent was sleeping in a doorway. Soon afterwards, he became one of the first residents of Tiny Tiny Homes' St. James Park pilot project. Brent's response to receiving a Tiny Tiny Home was one of overwhelming gratitude and an immediate desire to find ways to "pay it forward" by supporting those around him.
In April 2025, Tiny Tiny Homes helped Brent move into permanent housing—his first real home in over a decade. Sadly, as his illness progressed, Brent required transfer to Journey Home Hospice to receive palliative care.
On June 27, 2025, Brent passed away peacefully with Kate by his side. His final days were spent in comfort, peace and dignity, surrounded by the community he loved.
Without Tiny Tiny Homes, it is entirely possible that Brent's life would have ended in the doorway where he had spent so many nights sleeping.
Today, there are hundreds of people across Toronto living with the same uncertainty Brent once faced—sleeping outdoors, carrying everything they own, and wondering where they will find safety each night.
They deserve the same opportunity Brent was given.
That is why we are building Brent's Place.
Brent's Place will be a purpose-built 10-unit Tiny Tiny Homes community designed to help people transition from homelessness to permanent housing by providing:
This is not intended to be a final destination.
It is a bridge.
A place where people experiencing homelessness can regain stability, restore hope and build the foundations for an independent future.
Brent experienced the profound difference that housing can make.
He also experienced the extraordinary impact of being surrounded by people who believed in him.
He was no longer sleeping in a doorway.
He was no longer alone.
Brent's Place has been created so that others may experience that same hope, dignity and sense of belonging.
Every donation brings us one step closer to opening the doors of Brent's Place.
By supporting this project, you are helping to create a community where people experiencing homelessness can find safety, belonging and the support they need to rebuild their lives.
Together, we can ensure that more people leave the streets behind and discover what Brent found:
A safe place to call home.