Despite some concerns being raised about drug use and security issues, municipal officials say Chatham’s new transitional cabins project is working.
Pathways on Park opened in August with 50 cabins to support those experiencing homelessness, however during Monday night’s council meeting, officials noted there is still room for improvement.
Council heard a deputation from one Pathways on Park resident, Heather Brown, who said the experience of living at the site was not what she was led to believe, with drug use taking place in some cabins.
“There is a list of things that could definitely change,” Brown said. “I am not here just for myself, I am here for everyone.”
Mayor Darrin Canniff, in an interview on XS Mornings, said he knows there is room for improvement.
“We opened it up not quite three months ago, so they are certainly going through the learning curve of developing the property,” Canniff explained. “You’ve got a diverse crowd of 50 individuals that you are trying to take care of.”
Chatham-Kent’s Director of Housing, Kim Crew, shared an update on the tiny cabin project with council. She said all 50 cabins are currently occupied with 61 people on a waitlist.
“Since opening in August, nine participants have successfully transitioned from Pathways on Park into long term housing,” said Crew. “Additionally, two participants have already entered residential treatment programs with assistance from staff.”
Eight individuals have been restricted from the program due to repeated violations of rules, including damage to units, violence, and open substance use. Considered a “last resort”, Crew said the focus of Pathways on Park is to help participants build the skills they need to successfully live in long-term housing.
“Pathways on Park is not a one-stop fix-it solution,” said Crew. “It is rather a place that provides a stable place for individuals to work towards life stability and housing with a case manager who can help them navigate larger, and often difficult, local systems. We refer them to the proper resources and then support them in their journey.”
Mayor Canniff said municipal officials have been looking to other communities with similar properties for guidance on how to navigate issues, including operating hours for the common room.
“The room isn’t open all the time, there are four hours a day that caseworkers are taking people to appointments, so it’s not open all day. That was an issue. And they re-looked at that,” said Canniff.
Councillor Ryan Doyle questioned the effectiveness of harm-reduction kits distributed on the property, which CK Public Health is required by the province to provide in order to keep drug users safe.
Chatham-Kent’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, is planning to attend a future council meeting to discuss the harm reduction kits and their effectiveness.
