Community Safety & Well-Being

Project Overview

In 2019, new legislation was put into place through the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 which mandates every municipality across Ontario to develop and adopt a Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWP). These plans recognize that complex social issues cannot be solved independently or addressed in an incident-response basis. Instead, the CSWP seeks to utilize existing strengths and resources to establish proactive and collaborative approaches to mitigate identified challenges at a local level.

Ultimately, the purpose of a CSWP is to create a community in which everyone feels safe, has access to the services and opportunities they need, and have their needs met within Chatham-Kent.

The CSWB Planning Framework consists of the following four areas of intervention:

  1. Social Development: Promoting and maintaining community safety and well-being.

  2. Prevention: Proactively reducing identified risks.

  3. Risk Intervention: Mitigating situations of elevated risk.

  4. Incident Response: Critical and non-critical incident response.

While community safety and well-being planning and investment needs to occur at all levels of the framework, the majority of investments and resources should be spent on social development. By investing in strategies that are proactive instead of reactive, we can improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of our social programs and emergency services.

Project Update (June 10, 2025)

On June 9th, Chatham-Kent Council adopted the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWBP) updated for 2025–2029. The plan was created with input from 350 residents and local leaders in healthcare, education, emergency services, and social services. The plan provides a framework for expanding the current work of organizations by bringing different sectors together.

What the Plan Focuses On:

  1. Substance Use – Reducing harm, stigma, and systemic barriers associated with substance use.

  1. Mental Health – Promoting positive mental well-being and improving access to support.

  1. Housing & Income Security – Improving access to safe, affordable housing and financial stability.

  1. Public Safety – Helping people feel safe in our community.

  1. Community Belonging – Building stronger connections between people and their communities.

  1. Children, Youth & Family Wellness – Investing in youth and supporting healthy family relationships.

Each area will have a team of local partners working together to create and carry out action plans. These teams will track progress, listen to community feedback, and adjust their work as needed.

Next Steps:

  • Forming Action Tables and evidence-based strategies for each Priority Area
  • Develop a evaluation strategy to monitor our impact
  • Consult with community members on possible strategies
  • Collaborate with community partners to improve data sharing
  • Establish sustainable funding for projects

Community Engagement Survey Results

The Municipality invited residents to share input on the most safety and well-being issues through a survey conducted in March 2025. The survey sought to understand the needs, concerns, and priorities of Chatham-Kent residents. Over a four-week period, the survey received 350 responses, achieving a confidence level of 90% based on the population size of Chatham-Kent.

Key findings from the survey include:

  • 70% of respondents reported feeling a sense of belonging in their community.
  • 81.7% of respondents reported positive relationships with their neighbours.
  • 65% of respondents indicated that they feel safe or very safe walking alone in their neighbourhood after dark.
  • 79% believed that crime rates in their community have increased over the past four years.
  • Nearly 25% of respondents identified as parents to children aged 5-12, with over half expressing concerns about allowing their children to play outside unsupervised.
  • Substance use, criminal activity, mental health, physical activity, poverty, and education & employment were identified as top priorities for improving community safety and well-being.

While the survey provides valuable insights, limitations such as sample size and composition are acknowledged. The results will be combined with comprehensive data from Statistics Canada, Public Health Ontario, and local partner organizations, including the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team, Linck, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, and emergency services, to inform the Community Safety & Well-Being Plan.

Community input is vital when working towards building a safer, healthier, and more inclusive Chatham-Kent. The completed Community Safety and Well-Being Plan is expected to be shared with the public in Summer 2025.

Project Overview

In 2019, new legislation was put into place through the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 which mandates every municipality across Ontario to develop and adopt a Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWP). These plans recognize that complex social issues cannot be solved independently or addressed in an incident-response basis. Instead, the CSWP seeks to utilize existing strengths and resources to establish proactive and collaborative approaches to mitigate identified challenges at a local level.

Ultimately, the purpose of a CSWP is to create a community in which everyone feels safe, has access to the services and opportunities they need, and have their needs met within Chatham-Kent.

The CSWB Planning Framework consists of the following four areas of intervention:

  1. Social Development: Promoting and maintaining community safety and well-being.

  2. Prevention: Proactively reducing identified risks.

  3. Risk Intervention: Mitigating situations of elevated risk.

  4. Incident Response: Critical and non-critical incident response.

While community safety and well-being planning and investment needs to occur at all levels of the framework, the majority of investments and resources should be spent on social development. By investing in strategies that are proactive instead of reactive, we can improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of our social programs and emergency services.

Project Update (June 10, 2025)

On June 9th, Chatham-Kent Council adopted the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWBP) updated for 2025–2029. The plan was created with input from 350 residents and local leaders in healthcare, education, emergency services, and social services. The plan provides a framework for expanding the current work of organizations by bringing different sectors together.

What the Plan Focuses On:

  1. Substance Use – Reducing harm, stigma, and systemic barriers associated with substance use.

  1. Mental Health – Promoting positive mental well-being and improving access to support.

  1. Housing & Income Security – Improving access to safe, affordable housing and financial stability.

  1. Public Safety – Helping people feel safe in our community.

  1. Community Belonging – Building stronger connections between people and their communities.

  1. Children, Youth & Family Wellness – Investing in youth and supporting healthy family relationships.

Each area will have a team of local partners working together to create and carry out action plans. These teams will track progress, listen to community feedback, and adjust their work as needed.

Next Steps:

  • Forming Action Tables and evidence-based strategies for each Priority Area
  • Develop a evaluation strategy to monitor our impact
  • Consult with community members on possible strategies
  • Collaborate with community partners to improve data sharing
  • Establish sustainable funding for projects

Community Engagement Survey Results

The Municipality invited residents to share input on the most safety and well-being issues through a survey conducted in March 2025. The survey sought to understand the needs, concerns, and priorities of Chatham-Kent residents. Over a four-week period, the survey received 350 responses, achieving a confidence level of 90% based on the population size of Chatham-Kent.

Key findings from the survey include:

  • 70% of respondents reported feeling a sense of belonging in their community.
  • 81.7% of respondents reported positive relationships with their neighbours.
  • 65% of respondents indicated that they feel safe or very safe walking alone in their neighbourhood after dark.
  • 79% believed that crime rates in their community have increased over the past four years.
  • Nearly 25% of respondents identified as parents to children aged 5-12, with over half expressing concerns about allowing their children to play outside unsupervised.
  • Substance use, criminal activity, mental health, physical activity, poverty, and education & employment were identified as top priorities for improving community safety and well-being.

While the survey provides valuable insights, limitations such as sample size and composition are acknowledged. The results will be combined with comprehensive data from Statistics Canada, Public Health Ontario, and local partner organizations, including the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team, Linck, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, and emergency services, to inform the Community Safety & Well-Being Plan.

Community input is vital when working towards building a safer, healthier, and more inclusive Chatham-Kent. The completed Community Safety and Well-Being Plan is expected to be shared with the public in Summer 2025.

Page last updated: 10 Jun 2025, 11:08 AM