Chatham-Kent council has unanimously approved a single-source contract for a homeless-serving day program in Wallaceburg.
The decision was made as part of the consent agenda at the April 27, 2026 meeting, following a report from Director of Housing Services Kim Crew.
Council approved awarding the program to Reach Out Chatham-Kent (R.O.C.K) at a cost of $73,000 per year, with authorization for a two-year agreement and two optional one-year extensions.
The Homeless-Serving Day Program is intended to provide a drop-in space for low-income individuals, families and people experiencing homelessness, offering support for basic needs while connecting participants to housing, mental health, addiction and other community services.
Administration says the program plays a key role in Chatham-Kent’s homelessness response by promoting inclusion, system navigation and pathways to stability.
R.O.C.K is the current provider of the program, though its previous contract expired March 31, 2026.
A request for proposals was issued in February, but only one submission was received.
“Only one proponent took the bid, and only one response was received, by R.O.C.K.”
Under the municipality’s purchasing bylaw, a single bid qualifies the contract as a single-source procurement requiring council approval. The total cost over four years is estimated at $292,000.
The initial proposal submitted by R.O.C.K exceeded the approved budget, prompting discussions to reduce costs while maintaining core services.
“As a result, R.O.C.K submitted a revised proposal totaling $73,000, representing a reduction of $59,940 (approximately 45%) from the original submission.”
The revised proposal includes reduced staffing hours, along with lower training, travel and program material costs.
“These adjustments were reviewed by the Director, Housing Services and are considered sufficient to maintain the core program objectives and meet the basic needs of the individual being served, while reflecting a more streamlined service model.”
