Chatham-Kent Council will soon vote on a proposal that could see the municipality partner with a local shelter to address the community’s growing homeless crisis.
On Monday, the municipality’s Employment & Social Services (ESS) department will recommend that Chatham-Kent partner with Hope Haven to jointly deliver overnight shelter services.
While the municipality currently offers emergency housing at the Travelodge Hotel on Bloomfield Road in Chatham, a new location will soon be needed. The lease with the hotel, along with provincial funding, will soon expire.
Loree Bailey, the general manager of Hope Haven, said a partnership with Chatham-Kent is a natural progression for the shelter, and the need in the community has never been greater.
“When Hope Haven opened five years ago, we opened as an overnight shelter for men experiencing homelessness and there have been lots of changes [since],” she said. “The increase in homelessness in Chatham-Kent is a documented increase of 150 per cent.”
The Travelodge was able to offer 45 beds to those needing shelter, while Hope Haven currently only has 27. Bailey said, despite fewer beds, staff at the municipality are committed to making a partnership successful.
“There are other programs being developed by [CK staff] to route people in the right direction so that 27 beds will be enough,” she said. “It just makes sense for us to be a part of that solution.”
CK Council will debate the proposal to partner with Hope Haven during a meeting on Monday at 6 p.m.
