As council moves forward with plans to set up a temporary emergency shelter at the former Victoria Park elementary school in Chatham, Mayor Darrin Canniff wants residents to know all concerns are being taken seriously.
There were close to two dozen deputations at last night’s council meeting, many expressing frustration at the lack of community consultation.
Many neighbours said they only heard about the proposal over the past couple of days and wanted council to take more time to address their concerns.
Canniff says time is of the essence with an agreement to use the Travelodge in Chatham expiring at the end of May.
“We’ll be doing everything we possibly can to make sure the neighbourhood is kept as safe as possible,” Canniff says, stressing the former school is a temporary solution. “Certainly we’re looking at permanent solutions, it’s going to involve building new buildings, et cetera.”
Canniff says dealing with Chatham-Kent’s housing crisis needs to be a community effort involving residents, community groups, businesses, and the municipality working together.
A report to council last night suggested the former school building on Murray Street has enough space to allow for social services and other supports on site.
As many as 500 people have made use of temporary emergency shelter in Chatham-Kent over the last two years, including families with children.
