Community Partner Q&A

CMHA: CMHA Lambton Kent provides mental health services and support for anyone in need. Residents who are in need of services can reach CMHA by calling 1-866-299-7447.

Fire: Propane cylinders stored or used inside tents create a significant fire and life-safety risk and are not considered safe. Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue Services regularly engages with encampment occupants and partner agencies to educate individuals on fire hazards and safe practices. However, tents used as a residence are afforded certain privacy protections under Canadian law, and Fire personnel cannot enter a tent without lawful authority. When hazards are identified in areas that are accessible to Fire personnel, they are addressed through education, compliance efforts, and coordination with Municipal By-law Services and other partners.

 Fire: Fire prevention has been a priority since the encampments were established. Fire personnel conduct regular site visits to identify and address visible fire hazards, provide fire safety education, and work with municipal partners to reduce risks associated with combustible materials, open burning, and unsafe fuel storage. While Fire Services can address hazards identified in common areas, privacy laws limit our ability to inspect the interior of occupied tents without proper legal authority. Our focus remains on prevention, education, and risk reduction while maintaining the safety of occupants, neighbouring residents, and first responders.

Fire: Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue Services has responded to 319 incidents identified as related to homelessness or encampments since the beginning of 2026. These incidents encompass a range of emergency responses, including medical assists, fires, public safety concerns, and other calls for service.

Fire Services identifies these incidents through its incident reporting process. Following an emergency response, firefighters complete a reporting questionnaire that includes an indicator for whether the incident was related to homelessness or encampments. This designation is based on the circumstances observed by responding crews and is not limited to known encampment locations.

For example, if crews respond to an unresponsive person on a sidewalk, in a parking lot, behind a public building, along a pathway, or at another location where the individual appears to be experiencing homelessness, the incident may be recorded as homelessness-related. Similarly, responses to campfires, open-air burning, or other fire-related incidents in areas known to be frequented by individuals experiencing homelessness may also be captured under this category, even when the location is not a recognized encampment site. As a result, these incidents can occur anywhere across the municipality and are not exclusive to established encampment locations.

While incident response statistics are available, Fire Services does not currently track staffing hours, operational costs, or resource impacts associated with homelessness- or encampment-related incidents as a separate reporting category. These calls are managed as part of regular emergency response operations, with personnel and equipment deployed according to the nature, complexity, and urgency of each incident.

Information regarding homelessness-related fatalities is not maintained by Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue Services. Determinations regarding the cause and manner of death fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario and other appropriate health system partners.

Fire: Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue Services works collaboratively with Municipal By-law Services and other municipal partners to address fire-related concerns within encampments. Regular site cleanups occur to reduce combustible materials and improve site safety. While Fire Services provides expertise regarding fire hazards and life safety risks, enforcement of municipal property regulations and encampment standards falls under the authority of Municipal By-law Services.

Police: People residing in encampments are subject to the same provincial laws, municipal by-laws, and enforcement processes as all other members of the community are. Municipal By-law Enforcement regularly attends encampment locations to monitor compliance, address concerns, and issue orders when by-law violations are identified. When required, Chatham-Kent Police Service officers attend with Municipal By-law Enforcement to support compliance efforts and ensure public safety.
In addition to responding to complaints, police officers conduct regular proactive patrols of encampment areas. Where offences under the Criminal Code, provincial legislation, or municipal by-laws are identified, appropriate enforcement action is taken based on the circumstances, available evidence, and applicable legislation. As with any enforcement matter, officers exercise discretion and consider public safety, legal requirements, and the specific circumstances of each incident when determining the most appropriate response.

Fire: The same fire safety regulations apply throughout Chatham-Kent. Open-air burning is not permitted on municipal property, and fire permits are not issued for fires within encampments. When fires are reported, Fire Services responds promptly to extinguish them, assess any ongoing hazards, and provide education when appropriate. Our goal is to protect life, property, and the safety of the surrounding community while ensuring compliance with applicable fire safety regulations.

Police: Focused patrols through encampments and property checks in the surrounding neighbourhoods are conducted on a daily basis. Statistics are being shared with neighbourhood committees. The Chatham-Kent Police Service responds to all reports of criminal activity, including thefts, break and enters, and suspicious activity, and will investigate and take appropriate enforcement action where legal grounds exist.

Individuals under the influence of drugs are at most times treated as a medical event. They are treated by EMS including the use of Narcan and if an individual refuses to attend the hospital and they are not causing a disturbance, they would be released. Officers assess each situation individually and, where appropriate, request assistance from Emergency Medical Services, other community partners, or enforce the law if required.

Fire: Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue Services participates in ongoing site visits and works alongside Municipal By-law Services and community partners to identify and reduce fire hazards. Regular cleanups help remove combustible materials and address safety concerns where permitted. Fire Services also provides education regarding the dangers of propane use and storage in temporary shelters and encourages safer alternatives whenever possible.

Police: The Chatham-Kent Police Service is currently conducting a review of the operational impacts associated with encampment-related calls for service, including staffing time and resource utilization. As this review is ongoing, it would be premature to speculate on how changes to municipal enforcement responsibilities may affect police response capacity. The review will be complete within the next two weeks and shared.

Fire: Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue is responsible for responding to unauthorized fires, investigating fire safety concerns, and enforcing fire safety requirements. As these responsibilities remain with Fire & Rescue, it would be premature to estimate how changes to municipal enforcement responsibilities might affect fire service operations or response capacity. Additional analysis would be needed to determine whether any operational benefits could be realized.

Police: Statistics related to police enforcement and calls for service are shared with neighbourhood committees in areas impacted by encampments. The Chatham-Kent Police Service conducts daily focused patrols through encampments and property checks in the surrounding neighbourhoods, in partnership with Municipal By-law Services.
When criminal activity is reported or observed, officers investigate and take appropriate enforcement action where legal grounds exist. As part of these investigations, officers may review available CCTV or other evidence where appropriate.

Fire: Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue Services does not issue fines related to property management or encampment compliance matters. Enforcement authority for municipal property regulations rests with the appropriate authority having jurisdiction, including Municipal By-law Services where applicable. Fire Services' role is to assess and mitigate fire risks, provide fire safety education, and respond to emergencies. Regular site cleanups and ongoing safety reviews continue to support risk reduction efforts.

Police: No. Decisions regarding the enforcement of simple possession offences are governed by federal legislation, not by local police services. The Chatham-Kent Police Service enforces the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and applies the legislation as enacted by Parliament.

For simple possession offences, the Act requires officers to consider alternatives to criminal charges, such as warnings, referrals to health or social service providers, or other appropriate measures, before proceeding with enforcement action. Each incident is assessed on its own facts and circumstances.

Full question:

Bylaws are not being enforced at the PUC. When will the permanent structure (non tents) be removed? When will the multiple tents under one tarp be separated? When will the distance between the tents be adhered to? If there is another fire and the wind comes from the wrong direction(as this summer is expected to be windy) with the tents sitting on top of one another this will be another tragedy.The permanent structure will have no exit if a fire comes from the left of it. It is only a matter of time! Who is responsible for enforcing the bylaws and what are the steps that are taken? Is there a size limits for tents and why are building materials being allowed? How close to the fence are the tents allowed to be? Why do we have security on site if they aren't allowed to enforce anything? There are multiple unlicensed dirt bikes and a 4 wheeler ripping down the neighboring streets and going through the encampment and PUC property. Have these been investigated to see if these are drug deliveries? How do we stop them from flying down our neighboring streets. It is only a matter of time until a child or pedestrian walking down the street is hit and injured by one. Who do we call to report them? When someone doesn't follow the rules at the cabins, they are removed. What are the rules to stay in the encampment? What happens when those rules are broken? When can we expect the encampment at PUC to look acceptable. We in the neighbourhood have been told we need to accept the residents as part of our community. That will happen when the area looks like part of the community.

Answer:

Police: The Chatham-Kent Police Service investigates all reports of criminal activity and traffic-related offences, both within the encampment and throughout the community. Officers conduct daily, random, proactive patrols within the encampment and surrounding neighbourhoods, including focused foot patrols and property checks.
Reports of unlicensed off-road vehicles, dangerous driving, or other traffic-related offences are investigated by Community Patrol officers and the Traffic Management Unit. Where sufficient evidence exists that an offence has occurred, appropriate enforcement action is taken. Residents are encouraged to report these incidents as they occur so officers can investigate while the activity is ongoing.

Fire: Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue Services works with Municipal By-law Services to address concerns related to fire safety, including access for emergency responders, combustible materials, and the potential for fire spread between occupied areas. Where fire safety concerns are identified, Fire Services provides technical guidance and recommendations. Municipal staff responsible for by-law administration determine compliance measures and enforcement actions in accordance with established protocols and applicable legislation. Regular inspections and multiple site cleanups each week support ongoing risk reduction efforts.

 Full question:

Bylaws were passed after numerous hours by council, why are they not enforced? 1 tent per stayer, many have 2,3,4 with fences and making compounds. ( I have photographic proof). Less than 2 meters apart - huge fire hazard.. Please explain how these rules are blatantly disregarded. Why is ROCK allowed to overrule the bylaws set by council and therefore tie the hands of the bylaw officers so they cannot enforce the very bylaws they were hired to uphold? Stealing is a huge issue... +++bicycle chop shops, why are they allowed? Cart ahoy garbage bins stolen , propane tanks stolen , what are the consequences for their disregard for the law? We see none. Where is the fencing that was promised us? There was a walk through to get ride of propane tanks ( what a waste of time) , as no one can go into "their" property, every fire has been set by tanks INSIDE the tents. This is a danger to our neighbourhood. Why can you not look into their tents to remove dangerous items that could potentially kill then and nearby neighbours?

Answer:

Police: The Chatham-Kent Police Service investigates all reports of criminal activity and takes appropriate enforcement action where legal grounds exist. Officers conduct daily, random, proactive patrols within the encampment and surrounding neighbourhoods, including focused foot patrols and property checks.
Although encampments are located on public property, tents being used as a residence attract privacy protections under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Police cannot enter or search a tent solely on suspicion or to look for potential contraband or dangerous items. Officers must have lawful authority to enter, such as the occupant’s consent, exigent circumstances where there is an immediate risk to life or safety, or judicial authorization, such as a search warrant.
Where police receive information that a criminal offence has occurred or that there is an immediate threat to public safety, officers investigate and take the appropriate action permitted by law.

Fire: Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue Services shares community concerns regarding dangerous fire hazards such as propane cylinders, fuel containers, and other combustible materials. However, occupied tents are treated as residences under Canadian law and Fire personnel do not have authority to enter or search them without lawful grounds. When hazards are visible in common areas or when an immediate life-safety emergency exists, Fire Services takes appropriate action to protect occupants, neighbouring properties, and first responders. Our efforts focus on prevention, education, hazard reduction, and collaboration with municipal and community partners.

Housing Services: The encampment is managed in accordance with the Encampment Protocol. Regular site reviews take place, including weekly measurements to confirm appropriate spacing between tents. Enforcement and site maintenance activities are carried out by By-law Services. ROCK supports individuals accessing the site but does not direct by-law enforcement activities.

The possibility of installing a fence was considered when the encampment was first established. Following a review, it was determined that the safety implications of fencing the site outweighed the potential advantages, and a fence was therefore not pursued.

Police: Individuals living in encampments are subject to the same laws and municipal by-laws as everyone else. Municipal By-law Services regularly attend encampments to address by-law violations and issue enforcement orders where appropriate. Chatham-Kent Police Service officers work in partnership with By-law Services to support compliance and public safety.
The Chatham-Kent Police Service conducts daily focused patrols within encampments and surrounding neighbourhoods. Where criminal offences are identified, officers investigate and take appropriate enforcement action in accordance with applicable legislation. If police observe a matter for by-law then information is shared with the appropriate sections.

Fire: Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue Services works with Municipal Services and other community partners to identify and address fire and life safety concerns within encampments. Fire Services supports ongoing cleanup efforts to remove combustible materials and reduce fire risk. Where fire hazards or fire safety violations are identified, Fire & Rescue takes appropriate action in accordance with applicable legislation and fire safety requirements.

Housing Services: We do not "allow" people experiencing homelessness to come to our community. Like all residents of Ontario, individuals are free to travel between communities if they choose to do so. When someone contacts our Homeless Response Line, staff assess their circumstances and available supports. If an individual's strongest support network, housing opportunities, or services are located in another community, the only assistance we provide is to help them return to the community where they have the best chance of achieving housing stability and long-term success. While there is a perception that large numbers of individuals experiencing homelessness are coming from outside the area, our experience and data indicate that this is not the case. The vast majority of individuals currently residing in local encampments have strong ties to our community and were living here before experiencing homelessness. Our focus remains on helping people access the supports and housing resources that will best meet their needs, whether those supports are located within Chatham-Kent or elsewhere.

Police: A cost analysis is currently underway to assess the staffing time and financial resources associated with encampment and homelessness-related calls for service. The analysis will be complete in the next two weeks and shared at that time. From the data there is not a significant uptick in crime directly related to the encampment. There is a significant increase in police presence due to the underlying social issues, to address overall public safety concerns related to unhoused individuals.

Police: The Chatham-Kent Police Service conducts regular focused patrols in and around encampments, completes daily property checks in surrounding neighbourhoods, investigates reported criminal activity, and takes enforcement action where appropriate. Officers also work closely with community partners to connect individuals with available health and social services when appropriate.

These proactive measures have been in place since the encampments were established. Our data indicates calls for service in and around the encampment on Grand Avenue have not increased and in fact, remain lower than previous years. In 2025, our community experienced a 36% reduction in overall property crimes. At the same time, the number of proactive calls for service and those deemed to be social service related calls have increased significantly for the police.

Police: The Chatham-Kent Police Service conducts daily focused patrols within encampments. When officers observe or receive reports of suspected criminal activity, including the possession of stolen property, they investigate and take appropriate enforcement action where legal grounds exist.

Police: Chatham-Kent Police Service officers conduct daily, random, proactive patrols within the encampment, including focused foot patrols and daily property checks in the surrounding neighbourhood. These patrols are not conducted on a fixed schedule. Officers also respond to calls for service as required and work in partnership with Municipal By-law Services when appropriate.
While police attend the encampment in response to calls for service, officers are not called to the site every day. Questions regarding the future location or operation of the encampment should be directed to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.

Housing Services: There are no plans to move the encampment. Individuals are permitted to shelter outdoors on Municipal property as per the Encampment Protocols and corresponding by-laws.

Police: The Chatham-Kent Police Service conducts daily, random, proactive patrols within the encampment and surrounding neighbourhoods, including focused foot patrols and property checks. When criminal offences are identified or reported, officers investigate and take appropriate enforcement action in accordance with applicable federal and provincial legislation. Police are committed to holding individuals accountable where legal grounds exist and sufficient evidence supports enforcement action.

Police: All incidents reported to the Chatham-Kent Police Service are assessed and investigated by responding officers. Officers determine the appropriate course of action based on the evidence, the circumstances of the incident, and the applicable law.
Threatening language does not automatically constitute the criminal offence of uttering threats. Under the Criminal Code of Canada, officers must have reasonable grounds to believe that the words or conduct meet the legal definition of the offence before an arrest or charge can be made. Where legal grounds exist, appropriate enforcement action is taken.

Police: The Chatham-Kent Police Service recognizes the public safety concerns associated with suspected bicycle chop shops, stolen property, and other criminal activity within encampments. Officers conduct daily, random, proactive patrols within the encampment and surrounding neighbourhoods, including focused foot patrols and property checks.

When officers observe or receive reports of suspected criminal activity, they investigate and take appropriate enforcement action where legal grounds exist. To lay criminal charges, police must gather sufficient evidence to establish reasonable grounds that a specific criminal offence has been committed and that the person responsible can be identified. The presence of bicycles, bicycle parts, or repair activity alone does not establish that an illegal bicycle chop shop is operating. Officers must be able to demonstrate, through evidence, that the property is stolen or that a Criminal Code offence, such as possession or trafficking of stolen property, has occurred. Where that evidence exists, police will take appropriate enforcement action.

Police: The same federal and provincial laws, including the Criminal Code of Canada, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and applicable provincial legislation, apply within the encampment as they do throughout Chatham-Kent. There is not a separate set of laws or enforcement standards for the encampment.
Every call for service is assessed on its own facts and circumstances. Officers investigate reported incidents and determine the appropriate course of action based on the available evidence and the legal authorities provided by law. Enforcement action, including arrests and criminal charges, requires that legal thresholds be met. These standards are applied consistently throughout Chatham-Kent.
While some activities may be visible from outside a tent, police cannot enter a tent simply to determine whether a criminal offence is occurring. A tent that is being used as a residence attracts privacy protections under Canadian law. As with any residence, officers must have lawful authority to enter, such as the occupant’s consent, exigent circumstances, or a judicially authorized search warrant. This means police cannot rely on suspicion alone and must have sufficient legal grounds before entering or conducting a search.

Public intoxication by alcohol is addressed under Ontario’s Liquor Licence and Control Act. Drug use is approached in accordance with federal legislation, which requires officers to consider health and safety, diversion, and available community supports before determining the appropriate enforcement action. If an individual is causing a disturbance officers may arrest. Each incident is assessed individually based on the circumstances.

Even if a situation seems non-urgent, it can change quickly. Asking questions about the location, situation, and people involved helps ensure the right response is provided and avoids delays or errors.

ECOs use a consistent set of questions to determine the priority of each call and decide how best to respond. This helps ensure resources are sent appropriately and that situations can be escalated quickly if needed. Any matter reported is investigated thoroughly and if grounds exist charges may be laid.

Police: Canada no longer has a general offence of “vagrancy.” Beginning in 1972, Parliament repealed or significantly narrowed many of the traditional vagrancy provisions in the Criminal Code. Following the adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982, many of the remaining provisions were successfully challenged before the courts. In 1994, the Supreme Court of Canada, in R. v. Heywood, struck down one of the remaining vagrancy provisions as unconstitutional. Parliament formally repealed the remaining unconstitutional provision through Bill C-39 in 2019.

As a result, police cannot stop, arrest, or charge a person simply because they are experiencing homelessness or are present in a public place. The Chatham-Kent Police Service enforces the laws that currently exist. Where criminal offences, provincial offences, or municipal by-law violations occur, officers investigate and take appropriate enforcement action where legal grounds exist.

Drug use is addressed in accordance with the appropriate Federal and Provincial Laws. Officers when appropriate, will arrest, and they are also required to consider alternatives to criminal charges for simple possession, including warnings, referrals to health and social services, or other appropriate measures where permitted by law. Provincial Laws allow officers to arrest for open air drug use if individuals fail to comply with police direction however the arrest is limited and release with a fine is the typical result. Each incident is assessed on its own facts and circumstances.

EMS: Increased homelessness has resulted in additional EMS calls; however, the overall impact is being actively mitigated through targeted outreach, coordinated care, and strong partnerships across agencies. The data shows that when individuals are connected with consistent supports, such as clinics, encampment outreach, and referrals, 911 usage decreases substantially.

Full Question:

1. How does the ROCK Mission verify that the referrals you make actually result in a service delivery for the individual? 

2. When ROCK Mission identifies a barrier to service (e.g., lack of ID, pet policy, waitlists), how is that data communicated back to the committee to influence policy changes? 

3. What is the current caseload-to-staff ratio during peak outreach hours, and how has this ratio impacted the depth of engagement you can provide? 

4. In instances where individuals decline your initial outreach, what is the protocol for maintaining a presence without becoming coercive? 

5. Can you define the specific boundaries of the ROCK Mission's responsibility versus the responsibilities of municipal by-law or police services during an active encampment intervention? 

6. ROCK Mission operates as a primary point of contact for individuals in encampments. When conducting intake or providing support, does the organization collect and analyze data regarding an individual's 'last permanent residence' or their community of origin (e.g., Blenheim, Wallaceburg, Tilbury, or outside of Chatham-Kent)? If so, how is this data utilized to inform regional service planning and ensure that smaller communities in Chatham-Kent are receiving equitable outreach? Does the current outreach reporting framework include a breakdown of geographic origins for the individuals being served? If we are not tracking where these individuals are arriving from, how can the municipality accurately assess whether service demand is being driven by localized displacement within Chatham-Kent versus migration from other areas, and how does this inform our resource allocation strategy? 

7. Given the centralized nature of homeless services in Chatham, has ROCK Mission observed a trend of individuals gravitating toward the city from the smaller communities within the municipality? If this trend is present, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that outreach and support are not just concentrated in the urban core, but are effectively reaching those who may be displaced from their home communities?

Answers:

1. We don’t.  Once the hand off is complete, or the person we serve has made the initial contact with a different organization, that information remains confidential between those two parties. 

2.  I am not sure what committee is being referred to.  If it is the Encampment Advisory Committee, we have not been asked to do this.  When we identify a barrier to service, we support the individual with overcoming the barrier and make referrals as necessary to community organizations. 

3. There is no specific data to calculate those ratios, but the number is high.  I have approximately 15 frontline workers (outreach workers, drop-in workers, peers) and over 200 people on the by-names list.  It absolutely impacts the depth of engagement we can provide when so many high acuity folks need deep levels of support.

4. We show up every day.  People can choose to engage with us or choose not to.  There is never any pressure or demands of engagement.  

5. We are there as the support mechanism for very tough situations.  We have no enforcement role.  We will help, we will have conversations, deescalate, and provide a friendly face.

6. We do not, unless it is offered.  Recently we have been asked by the Municipality to update HIFIS information with specific locations (Wallaceburg, Blenheim, etc), which we now do if that information has been shared with us.  If we know someone is from another smaller community in Chatham-Kent, we will ask about familial or friend supports in that community.  As of right now we are serving people in Blenheim, Dresden, and Wallaceburg.  As homelessness grows and reaches into our smaller communities, our outreach could potentially become stretched beyond capacity if we cannot find further funding.

7. No, that pattern has not shown itself.  Most of our encampment residents are from Chatham.  The encampment in Wallaceburg has residents from Wallaceburg.

ROCK employs and supports a diverse team with a range of expertise. We continue to build organizational capacity through:   

• Intentional recruitment and orientation processes 
• Lived/living expertise 
• Peer training program 
• Ongoing team capacity building and professional development 
• Volunteer engagement and retention 
• Partnering with and learning from leaders and experts in the field within and outside of CK 
• Policy development, governance, and financial oversight  
• Individualized care plans for team members to support well-being and safety 
• A person with lived or living expertise of substance use and/or houselessness who uses their experience to inform professional work.  

Peers leverage their specialized ability to connect with their communities to enhance trust and credibility, building bridges to health and community services. 

The highly stigmatized and criminalized nature of substance use and houselessness contributes to experiences of mistrust with traditional services. 

When services are designed and delivered by individuals who have professional training but do not have lived or living experience, gaps in understanding can lead to unrealistic expectations and unintentional barriers.   

In the absence of adequate services, people with lived/living expertise have created support systems and cared for their communities for decades.

ROCK and the Community Drug Strategy intentionally engage and employ people with lived/living expertise in various roles to co-design and deliver programs and services including outreach, drop-in, education, and advisory roles. 

• "Drop-In Centres (Chatham & Wallaceburg)
• Daily on-the-street outreach providing food, harm reduction supplies and hygiene products
• Peer-2-Peer Program
• Peer-led Harm Reduction Satellite Sites
• Pathway2Care (Community Paramedics, Housing Workers & Peer collaboration) 
• Community Education
• Health Card replacement navigation
• Memorial Services
• Holding Hope Support Group
• Community clean ups Build trusting relationships through compassionate, person-centered outreach.
• Meet people where they are, without judgment, and provide ongoing support.
• Help meet immediate basic needs, including food, clothing, shelter, and housing.
• Connect individuals to the right community resources, including housing, healthcare, mental health, addictions, and social services.
• Coordinate with community partners to bridge gaps and improve access to support.
• Advocate, educate, and foster collaboration to build a stronger, more inclusive community.
• Empower people to move toward greater stability, independence, and well-being."

Full Question:

1. How is your funding determined from your various sources? 

2. Does the number of homeless impact what you receive for funding? If so, what is your incentive to get these people out of the encampments and receiving proper help, whether substance abuse, mental health, poverty or any other issues have landed them there? 

3. How many people from other jurisdictions have moved to Chatham-Kent to an encampment since July 2025?

4. Out of those, how many were found to not have relatives in Chatham-Kent and therefore returned to where they came from? 

5. It is my understanding that the executive director of R.O.C.K. has the last say on bylaw enforcement at the Grand Ave. encampment. Is this true? If so, why? Council passed the bylaws to be enforced by the security company, where the employees underwent special training to fulfill this job. The executive director is not an elected official, nor an employee of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. 

6. Has the director of R.O.C.K. or any member of (volunteer and/or paid), ever reached out to other communities requesting their overload be sent to Chatham-Kent? 

7. Have other communities ever reached out to R.O.C.K or any member of (volunteer and/or paid), requesting their overload be accepted by Chatham-Kent? I request that these questions be shared directly with all members of the E.A.C.

Answers:

1. We do grant writing asking for specific program needs that would give us a static amount.  We apply for funding through the Municipality depending on what their RFP (Request for Proposals) asks for.

2. No, our funding is static no matter how many people we serve.

3. Unknown.  An approximate number of people coming in from outside CK thus far that ROCK has had contact with is 3-5.

4. Two are currently still residing here, but the others have moved on without letting us know of their new destinations.  

5. Not true.  I have no final decision-making capacity on by-law enforcement.  We follow what processes the by-law enforcement team makes, and support as we are needed.  

6. No. It is important to recognize that the circulation of unsubstantiated rumours of this nature could be interpreted as potentially defamatory. Care should be taken to avoid repeating or perpetuating narratives that are not supported by evidence.

7. No. It is also important to recognize that speculation or unverified rumours suggesting that another organization or community is attempting to transfer responsibility could be interpreted as potentially defamatory if specific organizations or individuals are identified without evidence.

Unknown - those numbers would only be available from the organization we've referred to.

Full Question:

Are we identifying individuals who are falling through the cracks? How is ROCK using Chatham-Kent By Name List (BNL) to track how many times a single individual at the PUC site has attempted to transition into housing or treatment, only to relapse back into the encampment?

Answer:

No, unless it is self-disclosed.  We work closely with the Municipality (ESS team) within boundaries of consent to try and 'track' people who go back and forth between services - but autonomy dictates that if people don't want us to know, they don't have to tell us.

Working with municipal Housing Stability Workers.

• Donations 
• Fundraising 
• Municipal Funding 
• Grants 
• Ontario Trillium Foundation 
• Chatham-Kent Community Foundation 
• Private Foundation 
• TogetherCK Grant 
• Collaborative Grant Projects 

Audited annual reports available on website

ROCK employs and supports a diverse team with a range of expertise. We continue to build organizational capacity through:   

• Intentional recruitment and orientation processes 
• Lived/living expertise 
• Peer training program 
• Ongoing team capacity building and professional development 
• Volunteer engagement and retention 
• Partnering with and learning from leaders and experts in the field within and outside of CK 
• Policy development, governance, and financial oversight  
• Individualized care plans for team members to support well-being and safety 
• A person with lived or living expertise of substance use and/or houselessness who uses their experience to inform professional work.  

Peers leverage their specialized ability to connect with their communities to enhance trust and credibility, building bridges to health and community services. 

The highly stigmatized and criminalized nature of substance use and houselessness contributes to experiences of mistrust with traditional services. 

When services are designed and delivered by individuals who have professional training but do not have lived or living experience, gaps in understanding can lead to unrealistic expectations and unintentional barriers.   

In the absence of adequate services, people with lived/living expertise have created support systems and cared for their communities for decades.

ROCK and the Community Drug Strategy intentionally engage and employ people with lived/living expertise in various roles to co-design and deliver programs and services including outreach, drop-in, education, and advisory roles. 

See our list of community partners below - we work closely with organizations that have those qualifications.

Full Question:

According to the government rules does ROCK have to hand out harm reduction kits? Can they decline? What percentage of funds are used toward harm reduction kits. What percentage of funds are used for food? How many meals does ROCK provide weekly? How will it affect ROCK if encampments are shutdown ? What is your success rate for getting people off the street? How is it that ROCK is able to hand off a supply of kits to an encampment resident who is not a registered employee or volunteer to hand out at their discretion? Could he be selling these kits?

Answer:

Mandated by the Ministry of Health Ontario Public Health Standards. 

ROCK and other Harm Reduction Partners in CK and Ontario provide harm reduction services according to Best Practice Guidelines (CATIE, 2021) 

Most items are funded by the Ministry of Health and distributed through the Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program (OHRDP) 

Naloxone is funded through the Ministry of Health and distributed to Public Health Units through the Ontario Naloxone Program (ONP) 

Some items such as wound care kits, drug test kits, and other basic needs supplies are funded as able through one-time funding opportunities, grants, and donations 

No additional funds are used to purchase harm reduction kits, they are provided.  We don't give kits out to people who don't want them - they are asking for them, it's not a requirement to take them.  Please see our Annual Reports online for our entire budget.  We give out approximately 500 meals per week in Chatham, and the same number in Wallaceburg.  ROCK existed before active encampments. There has been homelessness in Chatham for years, and we will exist for as long as homelessness is active in Chatham-Kent.  We would like to be put out of business, if possible.  Our success rates are wholly dependent on community partnerships. We work with Pathways on Park to get people in, we work with Housing Workers who help people find homes.  Our job is to engage, and then help people connect with social services, so our data doesn't necessarily reflect 'getting people off the street'. It is more specific to making connections.  We rely on the expertise of People With Lived/Living Expertise who know their community and have trusting relationships with each other to further the work of Harm Reduction kits and supplies.  This is a practice done in many communities throughout Ontario, and is supported by evidence and data.  If we find out that they are selling them, they are removed from that position and if a new person is identified to help, we will bring them on. We have the same type of satellite sites in many of our smaller communities in Chatham-Kent, as only 3 of the 23 communities in Chatham-Kent have somewhere where people can access to Harm Reduction.