A North Kent councillor wants the municipality to do more to address the homelessness crisis in Chatham-Kent.
Ward 4 Councillor Rhonda Jubenville has put forth a motion to have administration investigate options for establishing a treatment facility and a specialized supportive housing center in Chatham-Kent.
With encampment protocol and by-law up for discussion again Monday night, Jubenville’s motion states that “relocating the occupants of the encampments from one location to another, across Chatham and Chatham-Kent, merely provides a temporary, band-aid solution, but fails to address the root cause of the encampments, which is addictions and mental health challenges.”
However, CK Director of Housing Services Kim Crew has noted that treatment facilities should be excluded from administration’s report because in Ontario, “the establishment, regulation, and operation of treatment facilities are governed by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, in collaboration with Ontario Health and local Ontario Health Teams.”
Crew added that administration has already brought several reports to council regarding the need for supportive housing. Earlier this year, council approved the feasibility and architectural design for two properties in Chatham-Kent to enable the development of affordable and supportive housing.
Administration will continue to explore the possibility of accelerating supportive housing options and will bring a report back to Council for consideration if/when options and costs are known,” said Crew.
If Jubenville’s motion is approved, a report on options for supportive housing projects would return to council by the end of the year.
Council will discuss the motion during a meeting Monday night.
