A Chatham-Kent councillor wants the municipality to explore adding more overnight warming stations outside of Chatham, as residents in rural communities struggle to access the only existing location.
Currently, Hope Haven is the only “official” overnight warming station in the community, and with Chatham-Kent spanning such a large area, its location on Wellington Street in Chatham often prevents those in rural communities from accessing it.
Ward 2 representative Anthony Ceccacci believes bringing this motion to the table at the February 9 meeting will get council and staff started looking at options for when the need for warming stations rises in places like Blenheim.
“Just from Blenheim we are starting to see the occasional person who is struggling with housing,” said Ceccacci.
“There are people right now that are choosing between paying their utilities and food, and if they are not able to, if maybe their heat is not on or they don’t have a house, what are those people doing in smaller rural areas to find a place for reprieve from the cold?”
Ceccacci told CKXS News he is not looking for any financial commitment from council, just a way to do things “a little better in our small communities.”
“Look at things from a proactive standpoint instead of reactive,” said Ceccacci. “And the last thing I want to see is individuals unhoused having to find warmth in all kinds of areas in our downtown core and places just because something is not simply offered.”