The municipality is maintaining the status quo when it comes to housing those experiencing homelessness in Chatham-Kent for at least another year.
Since the fall of last year, the Travelodge Hotel in Chatham has been the main homeless shelter in the municipality.
The hotel on Bloomfield Road will continue to be used by the homeless for emergency housing after Chatham-Kent council approved earlier this week having a sole source year-long agreement with the hotel for 32 rooms with the potential extension for up to 12 additional months into 2023.
A year ago an emergency isolation shelter was opened at the John D Bradley Centre due to the need for homeless people to safely isolate at the onset of the pandemic. However, this was a temporary stopgap and the sheltering program was moved to the Travelodge Hotel in September of last year.
The demand for emergency housing is expected to continue through the next few years due to the lack of affordable and supportive housing options.
Employment and Social Services staff have looked at owning their own building as a longer-term solution, as it would be more sustainable and cost effective, rather than relying on hotels. Polly Smith, Chatham-Kent’s director of Employment and Social Services, said they are currently exploring options and she hopes to have a plan in place for a permanent solution by the summer of this year.
By entering into an agreement with Travelodge for the 32 rooms, it will cost the municipality $939,000 annually.
