FAQs

The Transitional Housing Project will be a grouping of cabins (approx. 100 sq./ft. each) that will provide individuals experiencing homelessness with an opportunity to live independently while working towards self-sufficiency and transitioning to long term housing. These cabins will provide individuals with a bed, fridge, desk, and will be heated/cooled. A main common building will be on-site that will house bathrooms, a kitchen, training spaces, laundry, and office/meeting space.

This emergency transitional housing project will replace our existing emergency shelter (Victoria Park Place).

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.

In 2023:

• 419 households were known to be experiencing homelessness
• 256 households were assisted with securing housing
• 1,215 households received financial assistance to prevent homelessness
• 60 previously homeless youth received and maintained housing through CK’s Homes 4 Youth program. 
• 35 previously chronically homeless adults received supportive housing in CK
• 328 households stayed at Victoria Park Place
• 17 seniors experienced homelessness
• 69 children experienced homelessness
  • This includes 49 independent youth (aged 18-24) and 26 children (aged 0-17) in family admissions.

The need is expected to continue growing and in recognition of this staff have recommended a new approach to addressing this crisis. Shelters have served an important purpose but are difficult settings given the congregate nature and lack of privacy. With the recognition that emergency housing programs will be needed for the foreseeable future staff are recommending this type of programming as it has been shown to provide better outcomes while also costing less then what would be required in building a new shelter and operating it 24/7.

The current lease at Victoria Park Place ends May 2025 and there is no option to continue at this location.

Staff are recommending approximately 50 cabins and recognize this will mean that there will be waitlists for this service. This is no different then how emergency housing is currently operating. Victoria Park Place has space for 44 individuals and is regularly full, with a wait list. Dedicated staff work with participants to secure housing in the community as fast as possible in order to free up the program space for the next person in need. This “housing focus” will continue as it is recognized that these Cabins are not a long-term solution.

In addition to this emergency program staff are working to increase affordable housing options to make it possible for people to leave this program. Chatham-Kent is dependent on the Provincial and Federal government to partner with the Municipality in building more affordable housing in our community.

Chatham-Kent will continue working with community agencies who are able and willing to provide drop-in services during cold and hot weather events. These programs are critical to our overall community’s health and well being.

The location for this project will be 378, 390, and 392 Park Street in Chatham. These side by side lots on the corner of Park St. and Hyslop St are owned by the Municipality and do not require any site remediation to support this project.

The location is:

• 250m from a convenience store
• 350m from a bus stop
• 1.1km from Outreach for Hunger
• 1km from a laundromat
• 1.3km from ROCK Missions
• 1.6km from Hope Haven
• 1.9km and 2.5km from 2 grocery stores

This location is at the end of a residential neighborhood but given its proximity (250m) to Park Ave East is easily accessible for those who will be utilizing this program.

Administration has reviewed every appropriate location and sized municipally owned property within Chatham. In addition, Administration have reviewed a number of vacant land parcels to consider for purchase, however after further detailed review these locations were either not for sale or not appropriate (i.e. zoning, environmental concerns).

Accessibility is critical to achieving the program’s intended outcomes. Moving this program to a location outside of Chatham would make it inaccessible to those that need it as the majority of participants do not have access to reliable transportation nor can they afford the cost of public transportation.

The process for individuals experiencing homelessness will not change. Individuals can call the Homeless Response Line at 519-354-6628 and connect with staff who will walk through a series of questions including diversion (seeking safe alternate options to emergency housing), intake if appropriate, and cabin assignment.  If all cabins are occupied, individuals will be added to a waitlist.

Yes. This is a housing program and there will be individualized case plans and expectations for each participant. Expectations and goals will be unique to the individual’s circumstances and abilities.

Additionally, participants will be required to pay a small fee (geared to income) to participate in this program and will be responsible for covering the costs of most of their basic needs including meals.

Similar to on-site supports we have now, various community partners will be on-site offering different services such as mental health supports, addiction supports, life skills programming, and physical health care.

Families with children will continue to be assisted through local motel rooms.

We would like this to open as soon as possible, knowing our current rental contract ends in May 2025. If the project is completed prior to May 2025, we will not wait to move.

Next steps include:

• Completion of Request for Proposals for the construction and delivery of the project.
• Site development and readiness
• Program development and finalization
• Construction and design

This program will be supported with 24/7 staff and security who will be working with tenants to enhance their skills to secure housing in the private and public market. Participants of this program will not be permitted guests but will be able to access their transitional units as they please though the program’s controlled entry. Staff will work with neighbours to respond to concerns and complaints that involve participants.

The Municipality will be reaching out to direct neighbors on Hyslop and Park St. to meet and discuss the program further. The goal of these meeting will be to listen to concerns and proactively explore potential solutions.

Fact: There are many unique and individual circumstances that are factors in why someone might lose their housing including personal, interpersonal, systemic, and structural factors. These can include difficulty coping with mental illness or addictions, being laid off, lack of affordable housing, domestic or family violence, and discrimination.

Fact: Many people who experience homelessness are constantly in search for the necessities of life, such as food, shelter and a source of income. For those experiencing homelessness, searching for a job becomes even more challenging when an individual does not have access to a phone, computer, or fixed address on a regular basis.

Fact: Finding a job is much more difficult while experiencing homelessness.  Individuals experiencing homelessness face a unique set of challenges and obstacles that can make moving out of homelessness difficult.  Challenges like lack of a permanent address, limited or no access to showers and laundry, limited or no access to transportation, and high costs of housing can make obtaining and maintaining a job much more difficult. The unemployment rate for Chatham-Kent is 7.3% and remains slightly lower compared to the Ontario unemployment rate. It is important to note that sudden job loss and precarious employment are sometimes the triggers that lead to homelessness.

If we think about the rituals many of us follow to attend our employment we can see why this is nearly impossible without a stable home. For example: If you are employed you likely woke up to an alarm, started your day with breakfast, packed a lunch, showered and don clean clothing. It is likely that you were able to brush your teeth and get to work either by public transportation or a personal vehicle. These normal routines all require a stable home. 

Employment is important and critical to long term success for many of the people accessing municipal programs but it is only possible after securing affordable housing. This is the premise of “Housing First”.

Fact: In 2023, Victoria Park Place supported 341 unique stayers for 1 night or more. Approximately 6% of individuals that completed a diversion survey at VPP indicated they were from outside the Municipality and had travelled here due to a familial or social connection.  If those connections broke down and individuals reached out for help, they were offered assistance to return to their home Municipality. 

There are no laws preventing any Canadian Citizen to move from community to community. However due to our very limited community resources Municipal programs continue to require participants to be from CK or have a clear familial connection and support structure to access services. Exceptions are made for individuals fleeing domestic violence. 

Fact: Many of the solutions and supports for homelessness have focused on emergency services. For individuals who are trying to escape a cycle of poverty and homelessness, emergency services alone are not adequate.  Much of what the community is currently witnessing in Chatham-Kent are the results of people not receiving the care and support they need due to funding shortfalls and growing waitlists. There is a need to focus on larger factors, including the lack of affordable housing, the lack of mental health supports, and the frozen income supports that prevents people from obtaining permanent and suitable shelter.

Fact: Housing prices continue to remain high and there is no evidence to support this myth. This is a common misperception and is usually based on the assumed characteristics of the population that will be living in the development or housing.  The benefits of affordable, supportive, and transitional housing are often ignored in this argument.  It is important for those who have never experienced homelessness before, to understand that every individual experiencing homelessness faces a different and complex set of circumstances that has led to their situation.

Fact: Many people experiencing homelessness are not in receipt of social assistance.  For those who are, they often do not receive enough to afford housing and cover basic living expenses.  For example, in Ontario, a single person receiving Ontario Works receives a maximum of $390/month towards accommodation costs and $343/month for basic needs (food, toiletries, transportation, cellphone). This amount of monthly assistance has not increased since 2018. Meanwhile, the average asking rent for a 1-bedroom unit in Chatham-Kent continues to increase and is over $1500/ month.  Affordability is one of the most significant challenges for people who want to move out of the shelter system.

Fact: People experiencing homelessness love their pets and will find ways to provide and care for them.  When it comes to owning a pet, people experiencing homelessness are not much different than people who are housed: they love their furry companions, take good care of them, and treat them as family.  Having a pet is often a barrier for people needing to find shelter or access services, and some individuals would rather sleep outdoors than choose a bed in a shelter that doesn’t allow pets.

Fact: No one is safe from experiencing homelessness – it can happen to you or someone you know.  There are many circumstances that can lead to homelessness, and many are out of our control (e.g. trauma, mental health, job loss, domestic or family violence, and discrimination).  Homelessness does not discriminate.

Fact: Housing Services and numerous community partners are reaching out every day to people who are experiencing homelessness, to offer services and provide basic needs.  In 2023, over 100 individuals were supported through outreach. Individuals may choose to stay in the situation for a variety of reasons, including: the right services or housing is not available, they are not ready, or they prefer where they are versus the services offered.  

The reality is Chatham-Kent, like the majority of Canadian communities, does not have enough services or affordable housing for those who need it. Housing Services’ focus is to improve this to a point where there are sufficient options which will improve our ability to work with people currently residing in encampments. 

Fact:  Some individuals experiencing homelessness may sleep in “unsheltered” locations such as in a park, in cars, or in sheds.  Others may choose to stay in emergency “sheltered” locations such as shelters and motels.  While others are the “hidden homeless”.  They are temporarily housed, maybe for a few nights or even weeks, but often have nowhere to go when they are asked to leave – for instance when someone is couch surfing or temporarily in hospital.

Fact: Effectively reducing homelessness will take the entire community working together around this common goal. As a community member you can:

Be Kind – Kindness is a rare commodity for those experiencing homelessness. Unspeakable acts of violence and disrespect occur to people who are unhoused daily and often the act of kindness one shows is the only sharing of humanity experienced throughout the day. 

Speak Up – Homelessness is a complex challenge. To effectively reduce homelessness in Chatham-Kent, we must educate ourselves about the current situation and advocate for person-centered, trauma-informed supports that meet people where they are at. 

Support – Community programs like Hope Haven and ROCK missions who continue to fill gaps to reduce loss of life in the community.