It was standing room only at the Chatham Cultural Centre for the first of two public meetings to discuss the new location of an emergency homeless shelter in Chatham’s east end.
Many neighbours near the former Victoria Park public school on Murray Street have been up in arms since the decision was announced last week, upset over the lack of consultation and the shelter’s proximity to a daycare, school, and retirement facility.
There was no formal presentation from municipal officials at last night’s public meeting, allowing residents to take the floor and voice their questions and concerns.
Polly Smith, Chatham-Kent’s director of employment and social services says it’s about timing with the current arrangement to provide emergency shelter at the Travelodge coming to an end.
Smith says the search for a new location has been ongoing for the last two years, but other options fell through.
“It really has to do with the urgency of the need of the homeless, and all of this coming together so last minute, there wasn’t the opportuntiy…at least we felt that it should go forward to council to vote on because if we didn’t get started moving somewhere, we would be putting people out on the street.”
Municipal officials say there are no longer other options available, and the decision to move emergency shelter services to the former school property is not reversible.
Some residents wondered about the availability of services and supports for those using the new Murray Street shelter
Josh Myers, manager of Chatham-Kent’s homelessness prevention program says there will be resources available for those using the shelter.
“We’d be working with our community health partners to have a nurse on site, we’re working with CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association) to have mental health and addictions supports on site, we’ll have a housing team there seven days a week,” Myers says. “Our goal with this is not to have a shelter that is in the community for an indefinite time.”
Myers says the goal is to get those using the shelter’s services into stable housing, whether a home of their own, reunited with family, or connected to other support programs.
The municipality’s lease agreement with a group of local investors expires on May 31st, 2025. Polly Smith says that timeline cannot be extended and work will begin immediately on future plans.
A second information session will be held April 6th in Studio One at the Cultural Centre and streamed online on the municipality’s Facebook page.
