Council Approves Encampment Advisory Committee

Chatham-Kent Council has approved the establishment of a pilot Encampment Advisory Committee. The committee will serve as a formal channel for information sharing between the Municipality, community groups, and the community.

The committee will help ensure that all perspectives are considered and communication is enhanced on encampment matters.

The Encampment Advisory Committee will feature equal representation from:

• Members of Chatham-Kent Council
• Residents from neighbourhoods near the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) site, including those from the Northside Neighbours Association and individuals who have previously lived near shelters or large encampments
• Local business owners and operators, drawn from the Northside Neighbours Association
• Administrative personnel from the Municipality of Chatham-Kent
• Community groups and persons with lived and living expertise

Council has directed municipal staff to draft Terms of Reference for the committee to be brought back to Council for approval in the coming weeks. These terms will give the committee direction in addressing the existing encampment at the PUC, as well as any future encampments in Chatham-Kent with 10 or more tents.

Membership for Council representatives, nearby residents, and business owners will be adjusted depending on the location of any future encampment.

“I am very pleased that Council passed the Encampment Advisory Committee,” said Councillor Michael Bondy. “The residents and others affected by the encampment will have their concerns genuinely heard. Lives have been turned upside down and it is time to respectfully include these people in the process."

“This committee will open a much-needed dialogue,” said Mayor Darrin Canniff. “It brings together those most directly impacted, such as residents, businesses, community groups, and those with lived experience, alongside the Municipality, so we can work together to find solutions that respect and balance the needs of everyone.”