A local councillor is seeking more community consultation ahead of decision-making around Chatham-Kent’s homeless encampments.
Ward 6 representative Michael Bondy has put forth a notice of motion requesting that the municipality form an “encampment executive committee” and that it include representation from all invested groups.
“It would engage the residents, business owners, operators, council and administration to come together and discuss any policy changes for the encampment,” said Bondy. “It’s just to bring all of the stakeholders together so we can have some transparency and we can discuss what is going to happen.”
Several residents and business owners who live and work near the encampment at the CK PUC property on Grand Avenue East in Chatham have stated publicly that they no longer feel safe in their neighbourhoods. Others have reported thousands of dollars in losses due to vandalism and loss of business.
“We’ve heard a lot from the residents that they were not engaged, consulted or communicated with about anything,” said Bondy.
The Grand Avenue East encampment is the largest in Chatham-Kent, with as many as 50 unhoused individuals residing there at any given time. The location currently falls within the municipality’s encampment bylaw, which was approved by council last month.
“We don’t tell [homeless individuals] where to go, but we do tell them where not to go. And the way it is now, the limitations are so strict that we can have a pretty good eye on where they’re going, because we’ve restricted it so much,” said Bondy.
Bondy’s motion will be presented to council during its next meeting on Monday.