Council will be busy reviewing affordable and supportive housing options at tonight’s council meeting.
Three separate proposals are being presented to councilors in an attempt to alleviate the urgent need for affordable housing in Chatham-Kent.
In Chatham-Kent, there is a projected need for 2,283 supportive housing units between 2030 and 2050. By March 2025, the centralized wait list for affordable housing increased by 2.5 percent, with approximately 970 of the 1,386 households on the wait list seeking units in Chatham. Currently, a minimum of 130 additional supportive housing spaces are needed by 2025.
The first presentation is from Tim Welch Consulting, which was hired by the municipality to complete a Housing Needs Assessment for Chatham-Kent in July 2024.
Their assessment found major issues in the community, like a lack of affordable rentals, rising home costs, overcrowded living conditions, and homelessness.
Council will vote on their recommendation to hire another consultant to create a Strategic Housing Action Plan based on the study by Tim Welch Consulting. This new study would suggest what needs to be done next to fix the problems found in the housing needs assessment.
The cost of this study would be funded from the successful Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Housing Accelerator Fund grant, which Chatham-Kent was awarded earlier this year.
Another report being presented Monday night is an update on the Affordable Housing Development Initiatives in Chatham-Kent.
This includes an update on where things stand for 199 Westcourt Blvd in Wallaceburg.
According to Director of Municipal Housing Development Ray Harper, the process is in the design stage, which would see a five-storey community housing building containing 37 one-bedroom, 25 two-bedroom units, 5 three-bedroom units, and 5 four-bedroom units. The completed build is estimated for spring 2027 with a tender for construction being presented this August.
The Transitional Cabin Program, comprised of 50 cabins in Chatham, has its expected occupancy under review, with an official update being presented to council in May.
These two builds, plus ones at 101 McNaughton Ave West, 24 Redwood Crescent, and 179 Eugenie Street in Chatham, will provide 160 units to the community and go towards meeting the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Housing Accelerator Fund targets.
Harper will also update council members on vacant school properties, administration believes will provide much-needed housing units. These are the former John N. Given school at 92 Churchill Street in Chatham and St. Ursula School at 426 Lacroix Street in Chatham.
As for stalled builds, the development at 55 Minnie Street in Wallaceburg is on hold, due to an investigation that determined the surrounding area would need significant infrastructure upgrades in order to fully develop the site. Administration is pausing further development of this site until a funding opportunity or other development in the surrounding area occurs that could necessitate these upgrades.
Administration will also present to council two properties they believe are suitable for builds. Affordable housing is being proposed for 110 Sandys Street in Chatham, and a supportive housing proposal at 416-421 Park Street East in Chatham.
