The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is looking to move away from the temporary shelter in Chatham and into a new building or transitional cabins or tiny homes to address the growing problem of homelessness in the area.
Councillor Anthony Ceccacci's motion Monday night was approved by a unanimous 18-0 vote shortly after a deputation by the Tecumseh Park Neighbourhood Association asking for the Victoria Park Place shelter on Murray Street to be relocated to a non-residential area, citing crime has increased in their neighbourhood because of the shelter.
Ceccacci's motion stated the new location should not be near elementary schools, splash pads, wading pools, or daycare centres, and not near parks or in parks, and not in a residential neighbourhood.
"We're never going to have a perfect location for a shelter or anything that services our most vulnerable," said Ceccacci.
Council was told each cabin costs between $35,000-$50,000 and a multi-use shelter is roughly $2.5 million. The municipality said the cabins are 100 square feet, are made from shipping containers, and can be relocated if required. They would also be accompanied by a building with congregate washrooms.
Ceccacci is asking for a report in January 2024 with a preferred model, reasons why it's preferred, and estimated capital and operational costs.
He's also asking for the new location be operational by May 2025 when the current lease at Victoria Park Place expires.
A task force is also being formed to help address community homelessness, safety and well-being.
Council also unanimously supported Councillor Marjorie Crew's motion for the municipality to send the province a letter asking them to increase the accommodation rates for Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) to the local market rental rates.
Council heard the average rental rate for Chatham-Kent is about $1,250 a month, but Ontario Works recipients only receive $390 a month for shelter, while ODSP recipients receive $556 per month, which is not enough to rent anything in this economy.
"This isn't going to be the answer, but it is going to help people who are living in legislated poverty to at least have a chance. They don't have a chance right now. You can't even rent anything and you wonder why they're living in a parking lot," Crew said. "We need to put some pressure on them. You need to start helping with this issue and we need the help now."
Chatham-Kent's Director of Housing Services Josh Myers said 295 people stayed at the Chatham shelter from January-October 2023 and the "by name list" is approaching 200 and growing for the winter. A by name list is for residents known to be experiencing homelessness in Chatham-Kent, which is currently around 189.
Chatham-Kent's Director of Employment and Social Services Polly Smith said the shelter wait list is different and changes every day, adding it can be one to 10 people.
Myers also noted the shelter was full just about every night during the summer and about 60-70 people are currently sleeping rough outside in encampments daily.
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Previous story below from November 3, 2023:
Chatham-Kent's Director of Housing Services is reporting the number of people experiencing homelessness across the municipality continues to grow and the trend isn't expected to end anytime soon.
Josh Myers also said the number of households accessing emergency housing has increased.
In a report to be presented to Council Monday night, Myers noted that historically there has been a decrease in shelter use over the summer months, but that was not the case this year.
"Victoria Park Place (shelter in Chatham) is expected to require a waitlist this winter," Myers wrote in the report. "Along with this wait list, it is expected there will be an increase in visible homelessness and encampments on both public and private property."
He cited housing has become too expensive for a growing number of people in the community.
Myers said prior to 2017 if someone in Chatham-Kent became homeless and had no support system to rely on, they would likely be able to afford a short stay at a motel for $400-$700 a month in rent. He said those days are long gone.
"At the time of writing this report (October 16, 2023) there were 15 one-bedroom units listed on a popular rental internet site. The lowest rent currently advertised for a one-bedroom apartment is listed at $1,100 per month," he said.
Myers outlined that most residents staying at Victoria Park Place are relying on Social Assistance for income support and their total monthly income is far below the average market rent, which makes it more difficult to resolve homelessness than in 2016.
Compounding the situation, Chatham-Kent has approximately 60 fewer short-term rental options in motels than there were six months ago, according to Myers.
He added CK Extended Stay and the Traveler’s Inn in Chatham have closed and it is unknown at this time if there are plans for them to reopen.
"The solutions to this issue continue to be the same. All levels of government need to address the growing disparity of income versus rent, the need for increased mental health and addiction supports, and the need for a substantial number of new affordable housing units, especially those providing needed supports," wrote Myers.
Council will also hear the municipality tried to find a community agency with the ability to assume operations for Victoria Park Place, but no agencies came forward.
Myers said the emergency shelter will continue to be operated by municipal staff, adding it's not known yet if permanent emergency housing is needed for Chatham-Kent.
According to Myers, administration is exploring alternatives to emergency housing that include transitional cabins or tiny homes and the design and cost of a multi-use new emergency shelter that will have two designs. One that is solely an emergency shelter/hub and a second that also utilizes transitional housing units on another floor.
"At this time administration will not be recommending the return to relying solely on motels for emergency housing. The availability of rooms is not sufficient to service the number of homeless in the community," he said.
Myers' report noted Victoria Park Place is temporary and there is no current interest in continuing to provide emergency housing services at that location beyond the current lease, which is set to expire in May 2025.
Instead, administration is currently reviewing all municipally-owned land and buildings to determine if an emergency shelter or cabin program would be feasible on those sites.
Myers said portable housing benefits and rent supplements are another option used to assist renters with their housing costs. A Portable Housing Benefit (PBH) is a monthly subsidy provided to a low-income household to assist with housing costs. In the 2024-2027 budget, administration has requested an increase of 150 PHBs.
The Housing and Homelessness Progress Report also showed there's a risk of losing 572 Rent Geared to Income (RGI) units that are currently operated by Private Non-Profit (PNP) housing partners.
Myers said all 13 PNP housing providers, which have agreements with the municipality, will eventually reach the end of mortgage and operating agreements over the next eight years.