Chatham-Kent’s mayor has called for a special meeting of council in response to community concern over the location of a new homeless encampment.
The meeting will be held on Monday, July 28, at the Civic Centre to provide council the chance to discuss the location of the encampment, located on the Chatham-Kent PUC property on Grand Avenue East in Chatham, and the impact it is having on the surrounding community. Council will also explore potential measures to support neighbouring residents.
“We want the public to have an opportunity to listen to council discuss it. Council is all very much aware of the issue,” said Mayor Darrin Canniff. “We want to make sure there is a balance of rights between the landowners and people that are homeless.”
Many of the unhoused individuals sheltering at the PUC property moved there last week after being asked to vacate another encampment located on Thames Street, to allow for planned structural improvements along the Thames River.
In the days following, the Chatham-Kent Police Service issued a statement after members of the community made several non-emergency 911 calls about the location of the encampment. An online petition was also created, calling for the encampment’s removal.
The Encampment Protocol, previously adopted by Chatham-Kent Council, states unhoused persons are restricted from taking shelter on or within 100 metres of municipal playgrounds, water parks, splashpads, beaches, sports fields, elementary schools, childcare facilities, assisted living facilities, or a facility providing support or care services to youth or vulnerable populations. Bylaws also restrict unhoused individuals from sheltering within 10 metres of any private property line, in any actively used parking lot, and on any public-use building or structure.
The location of the encampment on Grand Avenue East currently falls within these conditions.
“We have a protocol to deal with homeless situations. We’re having [the] meeting Monday night to go over how we can continue to improve that. It’s an evolutionary process,” said Canniff. “There are not many communities that actually have protocols. Chatham-Kent is one of the first ones to have that.”
Canniff noted that London and Sarnia both have similar protocols in place, however, the distance restrictions for encampments vary. He said possibly adjusting CK’s distance restrictions will likely be discussed during the meeting on Monday.
“London says 100 metres, Sarnia says a kilometre from a residential space, and right now ours says 10 metres,” said Canniff. “So that’s certainly going to be the discussion… is that the right distance, or should we move it?”
Deputations from the community will be permitted on Monday, but Canniff has asked that residents avoid using the time to express complaints about the current situation. He said the goal of the meeting will be to guide a strategic response to encampments in the community going forward.
“Council is very aware of the issues… if you have solutions or if you want to have your voice heard, that’s what it’s about,” he said.
The Grand Avenue East encampment is the largest in Chatham-Kent, with as many as 50 “stayers” at any given time. However, municipal officials expect some of those will relocate to the new transitional cabin project at the intersection of Park Street and Hyslop Street when it opens in a few weeks.
Municipal officials said staff and council are continuing to actively advocate for provincial and federal funding to better address the homelessness issues that are experienced in Chatham-Kent and by communities across Canada.
