FAQs

The Municipality has critical slope stabilization work to complete on the north-west side of the Thames River between the Third and Fifth Street bridges. This necessary work has caused the need to move the Thames Street encampment.

Residents of the encampment were not directed by the Municipality to relocate to the PUC property.  They have chosen this location on their own, as there are limited options.

The Municipality does not have designated areas where encampments are explicitly permitted, nor does it direct unhoused persons to specific locations within Chatham-Kent.

The Municipal Encampment Protocol, established by Council on November 4, 2024, contains rules to ensure that unhoused persons who shelter themselves on public lands do so in a way that reduces impacts on other community members. Municipal staff have engaged with local outreach programs such as R.O.C.K. Missions to ensure that unhoused persons locate themselves in areas that fall within the Municipal Encampment Protocol.

The PUC property is municipally-owned and falls within the guidelines of the Municipal Encampment Protocol.  As a result, unhoused persons may shelter there if they so choose.

Under existing law, unhoused persons have a legal right to shelter on public lands if no other shelter options are available to them.

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

Canadian courts have also recognized that, in the absence of sufficient available and accessible housing solutions, encampments cannot be prohibited.

Removal of encampments from public spaces, regardless of whether there is a by-law that restricts that type of activity on the space, may not be possible without ensuring there is adequate shelter space for the people living in the encampment.

It is not a crime to be homeless. The police can't arrest someone because they are homeless.  

If residents of the encampment are doing something you feel is illegal, we encourage you to contact the police.

The Encampment Protocol, which was adopted by Council on November 4, 2024, is available here - https://www.chatham-kent.ca/community/housing/Documents/Appendix%20A%20-%20Encampment%20Response%20Strategy%20(RTC).pdf

Municipal staff or our outreach partners are completing daily walk-throughs of the encampment to make sure residents are following the guidelines of the encampment protocols.  If someone is not meeting the guidelines of the protocol, we are asking them to move.  Outreach supports are attending the encampment daily.  There are ongoing housing supports available for anyone who is experiencing homelessness.  These supports will continue to be offered to these residents, but not all supports are appropriate for everyone.  We are also reaching out to our community partners that provide mental health and addictions services to find ways to bring their services directly to the encampment residents.

Two portable bathrooms and a dumpster bin have been delivered to the encampment.  These will be emptied twice per week.  There will be ongoing walk-throughs of the encampment to assist in keeping the area as clean as possible.  Many community members are attempting to help our encampment residents by dropping off clothing and furniture for them, but we ask that you direct your kind donations to one of our local thrift stores, Hope Haven or ROCK, instead.  This creates more garbage and debris to litter the area.  Our encampment residents can reach out to these agencies directly when they have a need.

As the decision to move the encampment to the PUC property was not made by municipal staff or Council, staff and Council learned about the new location around the same time that the public did.
This transition to the PUC site was not municipally driven; therefore, there was no advance notice to communicate it to the community.
The PUC property was chosen by the residents of the former encampment on Thames Street.
The Municipality will continue to provide updates where possible as the situation evolves.

Parks, Recreation and Cemeteries staff have confirmed that there is no record of an unmarked cemetery at the PUC site.

Yes, two port-a-johns and a dumpster are now on-site and will be serviced twice weekly.

Based on our encampment protocol, unhoused individuals must not take shelter on or within 100 metres of municipal sports fields.  The distance from the soccer fields at the PUC site is greater than 100 metres from the tents.  We have worked with individuals to ensure their shelters/tents are only along the west side of the property, and we will continue to monitor this.

Staff from R.O.C.K. Missions attend the encampment daily.  If they notice any non-compliance with the protocols, they report these violations to Housing Services staff, who will address the issue.  R.O.C.K. Missions staff do not enforce the protocol.

No, there will not be security on site.

Individuals should call 911 in the event of an emergency or the non-emergency line so Fire & Rescue Services can respond and extinguish the fire. There are no open burns permitted at this location.  

Please call 311 to report excessive garbage.  

If someone believes the encampment protocol is being violated, they should call 311.  

If someone observes criminal activity that they believe should be reported to the police, they should call the Non-Emergency Line at 519-436-6600.  911 should only be called in emergency situations.

Due to concerns that vehicular traffic would use the walking paths near the encampment site, barriers were put in place to prevent this from happening.