CK Emergency Housing Proposal

Consultation has concluded

Partnership with Hope Haven

In early March 2022, the Employment & Social Services (ESS) department will recommend that Council support a new municipal partnership with Hope Haven to jointly deliver an overnight shelter at 183 Wellington Street West.

Through this partnership, ESS and Hope Haven will build a housing-focused shelter that will work with people to find long-term housing.

Why is Chatham-Kent partnering with Hope Haven?

Chatham-Kent launched its Emergency and Rapid Rehousing Program in April 2020, thanks to pandemic-related funding from the Ontario government. The program currently operates out of the Travelodge Hotel. The lease agreement with Travelodge, and the provincial funding that supported this program, is ending. However, there is still significant need for emergency housing in Chatham-Kent.

Hope Haven has experience operating a day program and overnight respite for homeless people during extreme weather. With support from Chatham-Kent, Hope Haven is well suited to deliver emergency housing support as an alternative to the Travelodge.

Why do we need emergency housing in Chatham-Kent?

Homelessness has increased by about 150% since December 2019 and on any given night there are some 200 people without a place to stay. Each week about five people access emergency housing for the first time. Through the emergency housing program, ESS and its partners have helped 472 households return to stable housing. There is a pressing need for housing and homelessness supports in Chatham-Kent.

Why has homelessness in Chatham-Kent increased?

Many factors contribute to homelessness. In short, more people are becoming homeless because of the combined impact of high housing costs, low vacancy rates, and stagnant or reduced incomes.

Housing costs have increased dramatically across Ontario, including in Chatham-Kent, where the average market rent for a one-bedroom unit has climbed more than 40% in the last three years. Despite this rapid increase, incomes for the thousands in our community on social assistance remain at 2019 levels.

In addition to higher rents, the rental vacancy rate in Chatham-Kent is 1.2%. Before COVID, it was about 2%.

The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on low-income people and families. Many in our community have faced reduced incomes while the costs of living continue to increase.

How will the partnership with Hope Haven address the housing crisis?

ESS and Hope Haven are committed to ending homelessness in Chatham-Kent. There are currently 45 beds at Travelodge used for emergency housing. When the lease with Travelodge ends, people will need a place to go. With help from the ESS department, Hope Haven has the expertise and ability to deliver an overnight shelter at 183 Wellington Street West.

Is there a long-term plan to address homelessness in Chatham-Kent?

One of the Municipality’s jobs is to increase housing stability in our community. We have a “Housing First” philosophy that recognizes that people first need a safe place to live before they can be successful at other life goals, such as finding a job. Emergency housing provides that safe place as a first step to achieving long-term stability.

ESS and Hope Haven will build a housing-focused shelter that will work with people to find long-term housing.

Emergency housing is the most urgent need in the community and this partnership will start to address this need. At the same time ESS is pursuing additional programs like transitional housing and is calling on higher levels of government to increase funding for programs like supportive housing that can address homelessness over the long term. . For more information on current programing, please visit: the Homeless Prevention page.

Can I provide feedback about the partnership?

ESS, Hope Haven and other community partners will be hosting community conversations on March 2 and 3rd through the Chatham-Kent Facebook Page (Facebook Live). These conversations will focus on how the new overnight shelter can fit into the community and be a good neighbour. The Municipality will listen to concerns and discuss how to address them. Chatham-Kent is committed to maintaining open communications with the community, should this plan be approved.

The goal is for the new emergency housing location to be a win-win for people who need support, and for the broader community. Ensuring that everyone has a place to live benefits us all.


Partnership with Hope Haven

In early March 2022, the Employment & Social Services (ESS) department will recommend that Council support a new municipal partnership with Hope Haven to jointly deliver an overnight shelter at 183 Wellington Street West.

Through this partnership, ESS and Hope Haven will build a housing-focused shelter that will work with people to find long-term housing.

Why is Chatham-Kent partnering with Hope Haven?

Chatham-Kent launched its Emergency and Rapid Rehousing Program in April 2020, thanks to pandemic-related funding from the Ontario government. The program currently operates out of the Travelodge Hotel. The lease agreement with Travelodge, and the provincial funding that supported this program, is ending. However, there is still significant need for emergency housing in Chatham-Kent.

Hope Haven has experience operating a day program and overnight respite for homeless people during extreme weather. With support from Chatham-Kent, Hope Haven is well suited to deliver emergency housing support as an alternative to the Travelodge.

Why do we need emergency housing in Chatham-Kent?

Homelessness has increased by about 150% since December 2019 and on any given night there are some 200 people without a place to stay. Each week about five people access emergency housing for the first time. Through the emergency housing program, ESS and its partners have helped 472 households return to stable housing. There is a pressing need for housing and homelessness supports in Chatham-Kent.

Why has homelessness in Chatham-Kent increased?

Many factors contribute to homelessness. In short, more people are becoming homeless because of the combined impact of high housing costs, low vacancy rates, and stagnant or reduced incomes.

Housing costs have increased dramatically across Ontario, including in Chatham-Kent, where the average market rent for a one-bedroom unit has climbed more than 40% in the last three years. Despite this rapid increase, incomes for the thousands in our community on social assistance remain at 2019 levels.

In addition to higher rents, the rental vacancy rate in Chatham-Kent is 1.2%. Before COVID, it was about 2%.

The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on low-income people and families. Many in our community have faced reduced incomes while the costs of living continue to increase.

How will the partnership with Hope Haven address the housing crisis?

ESS and Hope Haven are committed to ending homelessness in Chatham-Kent. There are currently 45 beds at Travelodge used for emergency housing. When the lease with Travelodge ends, people will need a place to go. With help from the ESS department, Hope Haven has the expertise and ability to deliver an overnight shelter at 183 Wellington Street West.

Is there a long-term plan to address homelessness in Chatham-Kent?

One of the Municipality’s jobs is to increase housing stability in our community. We have a “Housing First” philosophy that recognizes that people first need a safe place to live before they can be successful at other life goals, such as finding a job. Emergency housing provides that safe place as a first step to achieving long-term stability.

ESS and Hope Haven will build a housing-focused shelter that will work with people to find long-term housing.

Emergency housing is the most urgent need in the community and this partnership will start to address this need. At the same time ESS is pursuing additional programs like transitional housing and is calling on higher levels of government to increase funding for programs like supportive housing that can address homelessness over the long term. . For more information on current programing, please visit: the Homeless Prevention page.

Can I provide feedback about the partnership?

ESS, Hope Haven and other community partners will be hosting community conversations on March 2 and 3rd through the Chatham-Kent Facebook Page (Facebook Live). These conversations will focus on how the new overnight shelter can fit into the community and be a good neighbour. The Municipality will listen to concerns and discuss how to address them. Chatham-Kent is committed to maintaining open communications with the community, should this plan be approved.

The goal is for the new emergency housing location to be a win-win for people who need support, and for the broader community. Ensuring that everyone has a place to live benefits us all.