Encampment Updates

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.