The Municipality of Chatham-Kent will be discussing a site to house small transitional cabins to deal with the housing crisis.
The issue is on Monday night's agenda. A report prepared by administration recommends pursuing the development of an Emergency Transitional Cabin Program on vacant municipally owned property at 378, 390, and 392 Park Street in Chatham near Hyslop Street.
Staff said the site is near a convenience store, a bus stop, Outreach for Hunger, a laundromat, ROCK Missions, Hope Haven, and two grocery stores.
In January, Council approved securing 50 tiny cabins to replace the Victoria Park Place shelter in Chatham, which will have its lease expire in May 2025, and 24/7 security at the future cabin location to ensure that occupants have a safe and secure location.
"After extensive efforts reviewing properties, one property is being recommended that best meets the needs of the program, constraints of location, and timelines for the expiring lease," said staff. "Administration however is providing information on two other properties that although not recommended at this time, could be considered in the future."
The other sites not recommended at this time are 435 Grand Avenue West beside the courthouse, which has a lease agreement until April 1, 2031, and 421-461 Park Avenue East, which requires environmental studies and processes that will take several months to complete.
Council is also being asked to hire a project manager for a two years to assist with the cabin program along with current and future municipal affordable housing developments across the community. The new hire will have a yearly salary of $132,000 to be funded through reserves.
Administration is also seeking approval to begin development work at the location, including drawings and site servicing up to $500,000, which will be added to the debenture costs of the capital build and paid as part of operations over a recommended period.
The cabin program focuses on securing community housing, life skills training, and community referrals, according to administration.
"Administration is working to replace emergency shelter operations with an emergency transitional housing solution that includes the purchase of individual cabins. This model will have a positive impact on the lives of the people who need this program now and those who will need it in the future," the report states. "This program will be treated like other forms of affordable housing, including similar expectations, controlled entry, and independent living. In addition, staff and security will be on site 24/7 but will focus heavily on life skill development, community referrals, and rehousing in the public and private market."
Administration said 25 locations for this type of programming were reviewed after Council set guidelines for the properties, including not adjacent to elementary schools, splash pads, and wading pools or licensed child care centres; not in parks or directly adjacent to parks; and not within residential neighbourhood interiors.
The municipality said it has heard from neighborhood associations and some business groups that this type of housing and supportive housing should be located outside of town or within an industrial area away from others, but staff said it's confident that doing that would be counter-productive because people that need the service would be unable to access it because of a lack of public transportation.
"Moving this program outside of Chatham would come with added transportation costs and reduced participation in the program thereby limiting the community’s efforts in reducing homelessness. It is also expected that the prevalence of encampments would grow at a faster rate than they already are should the program be located outside of Chatham," said administration.
Neighboring residents near the Park Street and Hyslop Street location have not yet been consulted. Staff believe that it's important to inform Council of the potential location before initiating consultations with the community.
