A Chatham-Kent councillor is hoping to bypass the provincial government to access federal funds that will support the municipality’s response to encampments and homelessness in the community.
In motion coming to council on Monday, Ward 6 Councillor Brock McGregor is asking that council endorse a request for funding to Canada’s Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities to access funding from the federal budget, which has been earmarked to address homelessness.
The funding is currently unavailable to Ontario municipalities due to “a lack of cooperation and action by the province.”
According to Chatham-Kent’s 2025 draft budget, which will be deliberated by council later this month, the cost of addressing social issues such as affordable housing, homelessness and community safety will result in a 2.06 per cent tax increase for local residents.
Chatham-Kent’s only emergency shelter will cease operations next year. In response, council endorsed recommendations on January 15 to move forward with an emergency transitional cabin program at a cost of around $3.8 million.
In the meantime, Chatham-Kent administration continues to advocate to both the provincial and federal governments for additional funding, including several grant applications.