Encampment Updates

The August 11th Council meeting Encampment Report document and supporting appendices can be found here:

Chatham-Kent's Municipal Encampment Protocol and By-law - Report

Appendix A - 2025-07-29 Draft Encampment Protocol By-law

Appendix B - McGeorge

Appendix C - Water Tower

Appendix D - Thames Grove

On Monday, July 28, Council held a special meeting to discuss the current location of the encampment, the impact that it is having on the surrounding community and explore potential measures to support neighbouring residents. Council discussed the current Encampment Protocol and strategies on how best to navigate this evolving situation.

In total, there were 28 deputations submitted on the matter, with 16 being presented in-person in Council Chambers.

Following deputations and discussion, Mayor Canniff brought forth his motion, which originally included nine points. Some amendments were made, and council voted in favour of the following revisions to the Encampment Protocol:

• Administration continues to work in collaboration with ROCK to engage with individuals and prioritise them for services and housing as they become available.
• Administration voluntarily transitions as many homeless individuals as possible to the new transitional cabins program thereby diminishing the number of people in encampments.
• Administration actively pursues all options to reduce and end encampments in Chatham-Kent. This will include, but not be limited to, exploring opportunities to immediately deliver permanent supportive housing, and increased transitional cabins. A report back from administration on possible options and costing be returned to Council as soon as possible. The same recommendations should be presented to the provincial and federal government for financial assistance.
• Administration explore local housing options that could be quickly converted into supportive housing and report back on feasibility and costs.
• The current encampment protocols be amended to include a provision that there is to be no more than one tent per person, and that all personal items be stored within a tent (with exception of a bicycle and small structures for pets); and items in contravention to this will be removed following notice. Administration be directed to enhance the frequency of refuse collection at encampment sites.
• Administration bring back a by-law as soon as possible to allow for the enforcement of the approved protocols to begin.
• Administration hire an additional temporary by-law officer to enforce these amendments. Administration to report back recommendations on numbers and costs based on the approved protocol amendments.
• CK Police install CCTV cameras where operationally required at the sole discretion of Chatham-Kent Police.
• Administration bring a report back to the September 8, 2025 Council meeting with a plan to engage partners from mental health, medical supports, addictions, housing, ROCK that could provide supports (including crisis support alongside enforcements) to the people staying at encampments. This report should include creative solutions and best practice examples used across the province, and will also include related costs to CK.
• Regular neighbourhood communication begins immediately with appropriate members of administration, residents and business owners in the 325 Grand Ave E, Chatham property area until further notice.

Councillor Alysson Storey put forth a successful motion to refer the first point of Mayor Canniff’s motion back to administration, which would have restricted encampments within 100m of either residential or commercial properties as well as 25m from a construction site and 10m from a recreational path. Councillor Storey’s motion read:

“That recommendation 1 be referred to administration in order to ensure an informed and transparent decision process to the August meeting where Administration can report back with locations that fit within the setback radius; permitting the public to provide feedback and deputations on the implications of setback distances in the by law.” This report will come back before Council at the August 11^th Council meeting.

In response to the final point in the motion regarding regular communication, a dedicated Let’s Talk page has been set up for residents to learn more information and receive ongoing communications about the encampment:

www.LetsTalkChatham-Kent.ca/EncampmentUpdates

In response to the new location chosen by community members for the encampment, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent is taking action to assess and address impacts on neighbouring residents.

Mayor Darrin Canniff has called a special meeting of Chatham-Kent Council for Monday, July 28 to discuss the current location of the encampment, the impact that it is having on the surrounding community and explore potential measures to support neighbouring residents. Council is expected to discuss the current Encampment Protocol and strategies on how best to navigate this evolving situation. The goal of this meeting will be to guide a strategic response to encampments in the community going forward.

“Encampments are an incredibly complex and constantly evolving situation,” said Mayor Darrin Canniff. “While we must show empathy and understanding for those experiencing homelessness, we also have a responsibility to support the safety, well-being, and quality of life for neighbouring residents and businesses. I’m calling this special meeting of Council so we can work together as a community to find an actionable and compassionate path forward.”

Chatham-Kent staff and Council members continue to actively advocate with Provincial and Federal levels of government for funding and resources to better deal with the homelessness issues that are being experienced both in Chatham-Kent and by many communities in Canada. The Municipality is committed to ensuring that our community’s concerns are heard at the highest levels of government.

For information and frequently asked questions about encampments in Chatham-Kent, residents are encouraged to visit www.chatham-kent.ca/community/housing/Pages/Encampment-FAQ.aspx

As the Municipality of Chatham-Kent moves forward with critical slope stabilization work along the north-west side of the Thames River between Third Street and Fifth Street in Chatham, the unhoused persons sheltering at 12 Thames Street are required to move for safety reasons.

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent does not have designated areas where encampments are explicitly permitted, nor does it direct unhoused persons to specific locations within the Municipality. Under existing law, unhoused persons have a legal right to shelter on public lands if no other shelter option is available to them. The Municipal Encampment Protocol, established by Council on November 4 of 2024, contains rules to ensure that unhoused persons who shelter themselves on public lands do so in a way that tries to reduce impacts on other community members.

As per the Encampment Protocol, there are several restrictions in place as to where unhoused persons can shelter, which include being:

• On or within 100 metres from municipal playgrounds, water parks, splashpads, beaches, or sports fields
• On or within 100 metres from any elementary schools, childcare facility, assisted living facility, or other health or social service facility providing support or care services to youth or vulnerable populations including shelters
• Within 10 metres of any private property line
• In any actively used parking lot
• In or on any public-use building or structure
• Full list here: https://pub-chatham-kent.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=16611

The PUC property, which is Municipally owned, falls within the guidelines of the Encampment Protocol and as a result, unhoused persons may shelter there if they so choose.

The Municipality has services available to those experiencing homelessness through Victoria Park Place, the Transitional Cabins Project, which is slated to open in August of this year, and the Homeless Response Line. R.O.C.K. Missions is assisting in this matter and residents are encouraged to call their office at 519-351-1450 for assistance with transitioning.

The Municipality remains committed to working with encampment residents and community partners to provide outreach and support.

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is moving forward with critical slope stabilization work along the north-west side of the Thames River between Third Street and Fifth Street in Chatham. This important infrastructure project, scheduled to begin in Fall 2025 and continue through Spring 2026, has been in the planning stages since 2024 and is funded in part by the Government of Canada through the federal Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF).

As part of the construction preparation process, the unhoused persons who are sheltering at 12 Thames Street must move for safety reasons. Notices have been hand-delivered by Chatham-Kent Housing Services staff to individuals currently residing in the encampment. The Municipality is working closely with community partners including ROCK Missions to ensure supports are in place for those impacted.

Under existing case law, unhoused persons have a legal right to shelter on public lands if no other shelter option is available to them. As per the Encampment Protocol adopted by Chatham-Kent Council on November 4 of 2024, there are several restrictions in place as to where unhoused persons can shelter, which include being:

• On or within 100 metres from municipal playgrounds, water parks, splashpads, beaches, or sports fields
• On or within 100 metres from any elementary schools, childcare facility, assisted living facility, or other health or social service facility providing support or care services to youth or vulnerable populations including shelters
• Within 10 metres of any private property line
• In any actively used parking lot
• In or on any public-use building or structure

The Municipality has services available to those experiencing homelessness through Victoria Park Place, the Transitional Cabins Project, which is slated to open in August of this year, and the Homeless Response Line.

Residents may notice a police presence at the encampment on Monday, July 14, as remaining tents and property are respectfully removed from the site. The police, who will be accompanied by Municipal Housing staff and ROCK Missions outreach workers, will be in attendance to support the safety of all involved. Following this, a contractor will be dispatched to clean and prepare the location for the upcoming construction work.

The Municipality acknowledges the sensitivity of this situation and is committed to working with encampment residents and community partners to provide outreach and support, while also advancing a critical infrastructure project that will protect Downtown Chatham over the long term.