Homelessness and affordable housing will be front and centre at Chatham-Kent council on Monday evening.
Two reports will be going before councillors asking them to authorize a new affordable housing development at 42 Southend Crescent in Chatham and to renew a program that helps homeless individuals.
Administration wants the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) to continue delivering the program for another year with the possibility of extending it for two more years. The program is a combination of housing assistance, such as rent-geared-to-income and rent supplements along with support services, such as counselling and life skills training to enable homeless people to live as independently as possible in a community setting.
"CMHA has demonstrated their ability to leverage wrap around supports to improve outcomes for clients participating in this program," wrote Employment and Social Services Program Manager Josh Myers in his report. "There are no other agencies in Chatham-Kent that have the capacity or experience to deliver a program of this nature. CMHA Lambton-Kent continues to provide excellent service within the expectations of the contract and it is recommended to continue to avoid unnecessary service interruptions for the people that depend on this program."
The program started in 2017, is fully funded by the province, and provides 22 supportive housing spaces to those most in need in the community.
Myers said the program has made a real difference in many lives and is a part of Chatham-Kent’s plan to end chronic homelessness in the community. He said 100 per cent of active participants are still housed 18 months after moving into their own place and the average use of expensive public services, such as emergency room visits, ambulance rides, hospital stays, police interactions and incarcerations was cut by more than half after just six months of being housed.
"Emergency housing programming alone will not end homelessness. Supportive housing continues to be an evidence-based, successful way to achieve housing stability for people experiencing episodic and chronic homelessness," Myers added.
Chatham-Kent, like many communities across the country, is experiencing increasing levels of homelessness and the plan is to have 25 per cent of new housing units be affordable by 2024, 60 new non-profit, co-op or affordable rental housing units created, more vulnerable people linked to appropriate supports to maintain housing, and established partnerships with the healthcare sector to provide additional supportive housing.
If approved, the Municipality will also start looking for a developer to build affordable housing at 42 Southend Crescent, declare the vacant property surplus, and transfer it to the successful bidder.
"Chatham-Kent’s Director, Housing Services has been working on various processes with other departments to review municipally owned vacant land and/or buildings that can be used for affordable housing development. During these discussions and review, the 42 Southend Crescent parcel of land has been identified with potential affordable housing development possibilities," said Director of Housing Services Ray Harper.
Mayor Darrin Canniff told the local Chamber of Commerce at the annual Mayor's Address on May 19, 2021 that the region’s biggest challenge is mental health and the municipality must deal with homelessness and drug addiction like the rest of the country.
