A rezoning application for a residential home to be used as a residential substance abuse facility has been unanimously approved by Chatham-Kent council.
The Joseph Street facility will be operated by Journey’s Recovery Home. The application proposed to permit the existing dwelling to be used as a transitional housing facility with up to seven residents.
The plan is for the facility to provide housing and programming in a residential setting to men in their journey of recovering from substance abuse and addiction.
A number of speakers making deputations at Monday night’s council meeting were in favour of rezoning the facility to be used as a residential substance abuse facility. All said the facility will help assist in solving the homeless and addiction problem in Chatham-Kent.
Neighbour Margaret Butler made an emotional deputation in favour of the rezoning, noting the neighbourhood has improved since the recovery facility was set up.
She said there is healing going on across the street from her house every day.
“They don’t need seven beds, they need 12, they need one of the empty schools. This is the solution to Chatham’s problem,” Butler said.
