Most people living at the former encampment site on Thames Street in Chatham have decided to move to the Public Utilities Commission property on Grand Avenue East in Chatham.
The municipality said the new encampment meets municipal encampment protocols currently in place.
Dwellers at the Thames Street encampment had to move by Monday for safety reasons to allow a slope stabilization project on the Thames River in downtown Chatham to proceed.
There are soccer fields, community gardens, and trails near the new encampment, but Chatham-Kent General Manager of Health and Human Services Jodi Guilmette said they're far enough away from the new encampment that it shouldn't pose a problem.
Guilmette agrees with public concerns that the new encampment is farther away from cooling centres, along with homeless services and supports in downtown Chatham, but noted it was the encampment dwellers who chose the PUC property.
"There are some walking paths that go along side the tents that people may choose to walk on or not. But the soccer fields and community gardens are not located near the tents," said Guilmette. "It was not administration that directed staff to that site. It was the stayers choice to move to that site and don't know that I want to pretend to understand why they chose that site."
Residents with encampment concerns can call 311 to be directed to CK Director of Housing Services Kim Crew.
The municipality noted it has services available to those experiencing homelessness through the Victoria Park Place shelter, the Transitional Cabins Project, which is slated to open in August, and the Homeless Response Line.
Encampment dwellers are encouraged to call R.O.C.K. Missions at 519-351-1450 for assistance with transitioning.
The municipality said it remains committed to working with encampment residents and community partners to provide outreach and support.