The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is reporting that homelessness across the community has jumped by 171 per cent since 2019.
"In December 2019, Chatham-Kent officials knew of 84 people who were experiencing homelessness. As of January 2025, that number has grown to around 228 people," stated the municipality in a news release.
The municipality also noted that currently there are between 75 and 100 people who are staying in 10 known encampments throughout the community.
The news comes just days after a homelessness report by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario stating that Ontario is at a "tipping point" in its homelessness crisis with more than 80,000 Ontarians known to be homeless in 2024, a 12 per cent increase over 2023.
Municipal officials noted the waitlist for community housing is now at a record high of 1,352 households. The estimated wait time is 10 years. CK Director of Housing Development Ray Harper told CK News Today his main concern these days is the fact that the waitlist grew so large so quickly.
The Hope Haven drop-in centre is seeing approximately 50 people per night for warming services and approximately 30 of them stay for the entire evening, according to municipal officials. They also added that Victoria Park Place, the temporary municipal homeless shelter, is currently at 86 per cent capacity (38 clients).
The municipality has long been saying that housing with appropriate supports is needed and frozen Ontario Works rates and inadequate Ontario Disability rates are driving poverty and putting new people into homelessness daily.
Ontario Works rates have remained at $733 since 2019 and Ontario Disability rates have increased 17 per cent from $1,169 to $1,368 in the past five years.
The number of CK households on Ontario Works has increased by 18 per cent during this time to 2,331 households, said local officials.
The average "asking rent" in Chatham-Kent has also doubled since 2019. Officials noted the average for a one bedroom apartment has increased by 115 per cent from $816 to $1,759 per month, more than double the total monthly income of the 1,400 single applicants in CK receiving Ontario Works.
Municipal staff, Council, and local advocacy groups continue to lobby the Provincial and Federal governments for increased funding, additional resources, and expanded programs to help with this growing issue.
Municipal Council has recently approved additional homeless supports, including extending the Hope Haven warming centre to be open overnight, increasing ROCK outreach services to seven days a week, and approving the transition from congregate shelters to transitional cabins.
"Affordable and Supportive Housing remains a Municipal priority and staff and partners will continue to respond with urgency to this growing challenge," the municipality reiterated.