Municipality of Chatham-Kent Council has approved the next step in the process to construct a Transitional Housing Program on the corner lot of Hyslop Street and Park Street in Chatham.
Municipal officials say the program will consist of approximately 50 individual cabins and one shared communal building.
There will be 24/7 security and support staff on site working with individuals to build life skills, access health care and obtain permanent housing.
The cabins will be located at 378, 390 and 392 Park Street, Municipal officials say.
The Municipality conducted an exhaustive search, spanning several months, that analyzed over 25 different properties.
This property was chosen as the final location for the program because it meets the following criteria:
– It is already Municipally owned, reducing the cost to tax payers
– 250 m from a convenience store
– 350 m from a bus stop
– 1 km from Outreach for Hunger
– 1 km from a laundromat
– 3 km from ROCK Missions
– 6 km from Hope Haven
– 9 km and 2.5 km from two grocery stores
“With Council’s approval, Municipal staff will be launching this important housing program as quickly as possible,” said Josh Myers, Director of Housing Services, in a media release.
“This program will give CK residents who are experiencing homelessness the opportunity to heal, learn new skills and be connected with other supports that are needed to change their future. The Municipality is taking steps, with the help of our partners, to improve the programs that we deliver and ensure that they have a lasting and positive impact on our community.”
The program exists in response to a growing need for transitional housing in CK, which is in line with every other community in Canada due to several expanding and complex issues, including cost of living, Municipal officials added.
Council was presented with a report titled “Emergency Transitional Cabin Program Location” that outlines next steps in the process, which are as follows:
– Pre-site development work including drawings and site servicing
– Hiring a Project Manager to assist with this project as well as other current and future municipal affordable housing developments
– Issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the construction of the project
– Issuing an RFP for 24/7 security services for the future location
Read the full report, here.
The current program location at Victoria Park Place (215 Murray St.) will be decommissioned as soon as this new build is fully functional, Municipal officials added.
The lease for this property expires in May 2025.
“This is a great step forward for Chatham-Kent,” stated Mayor Darrin Canniff, in a press release.
“This is progress; this is Chatham-Kent looking to implement a progressive solution to a very difficult issue. Housing is a fundamental need in our society, and this is an extremely worthwhile investment we’ve made today that will have a far-reaching positive impact on the lives of most vulnerable citizens in our community.”
Municipal officials addded, in April 2020, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent opened a temporary emergency shelter in response to the increasing numbers of individuals and families falling into homelessness due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since this time, the number of people experiencing homelessness has continued to increase despite Municipal and community efforts to assist those in need.
Recognizing the need for shelter was not decreasing, Council directed administration to provide a recommendation on future emergency/transitional housing plans, Municipal officials say.
In January 2024, Council provided approval to administration to move forward with the Emergency Transitional Cabin Program, which will replace the existing emergency shelter.
For those looking to learn more about the program, please visit the dedicated Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent page at: https://www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca/transitional-housing-project.
This page will be continuously updated as the project moves forward.
