The general manager of a local overnight shelter says coordination between community partners is helping to ensure those experiencing homelessness are taken care of during the coldest nights of the year.
Hope Haven on Wellington Street West in Chatham has been operating with expanded hours since December 1, 2024 to serve the homeless population as an overnight warming centre.
General Manager Loree Bailey said Hope Haven has worked closely with the municipality’s Employment and Social Services department to ensure those staying in one of the many homeless encampments in Chatham-Kent have somewhere warm to go.
“Anybody that they’re aware of that’s out in the cold, they either have them enter the [homeless] shelter or they work with us to make sure they can get into our centre,” said Bailey
Bailey added that Hope Haven also coordinates with the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and the Chatham-Kent Police Service to direct individuals to the warming centre.
There are around 40 to 75 people utilizing the warming centre as temperatures dip below freezing each night. Bailey said that is approximately three times higher than the number of people seen by Hope Haven during the same time last year.
“They may stay for a couple of hours, they may stay just long enough to have a warm shower and maybe do a load of laundry, use the bathroom. Some of them stay for 12 hours, some stay for a couple hours — it really depends,” she said.
While Hope Haven is located in Chatham, transportation to the shelter is offered to anyone in the municipality who needs access.
“We will make arrangements for them to have transportation to us so that they’re not out in the cold,” said Bailey. “Just because they’re not in Chatham proper doesn’t mean they can’t access the services.”
Transportation to Hope Haven can be requested by calling the centre at (519) 351-4010.
According to the municipality, there are over 200 people experiencing homelessness in Chatham-Kent, and between 75 and 100 of those are staying in encampments.
Hope Haven will remain open overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. until March 1.
