FAQs

The answer is sometimes.  Residents of Chatham-Kent who are experiencing homelessness may need emergency housing at a shelter or motel but many are able to spend some or all of their time while homeless in short term temporary stays with family and friends.

For example, at the time of writing, there are currently 160 people on the “by name list” (known to be experiencing homelessness) but only 60 people in shelter and motels.   Further, each week there are at least 3 people who newly fall into homelessness, and as well as 5-6 people who become housed in the private market or social housing, some from shelter, others from their own temporary housing option.

One of the goals of this Indwell supportive housing project is to house people experiencing homelessness who need minimal to a higher level of support.  Individuals experiencing homelessness have varying levels of need, this is assessed by staff.  There will be 24 units dedicated to people with high needs and higher supports.   These individuals could be referred from any organization involved in coordinated access to housing, including hospital. Additionally, people experiencing homelessness are also housed in the private market and social housing.

It should be noted that people with varying levels of need live everywhere, including in the Croyden St neighbourhood already.  Needs also vary including physical, mental health, substance use and life skills.   With supports people are provided help with these needs.  The 24 units of enhanced supports for people with high needs, include 24/7 staffing.   The units will be for individuals with less needs, and they will be provided supports as needed, much like many of us are.  They may have food deliveries, cleaning services, a visiting nurse or social worker visits.

No, they will primarily be residents of Chatham-Kent who have major connections to the community and have lived here most of their lives.  There may be a rare exception when someone is being moved from a community due to domestic violence or human trafficking situation who needs to relocate for their safety. In those rare cases, the person would have wrap around supports and newer connections within Chatham-Kent.  People experiencing homelessness and receiving services on the ‘by name list’ (of people experiencing homelessness) have already been assessed as being residents of Chatham-Kent.

No not directly, Indwell will be assisting people with immediate need of supportive housing first, working with community agencies for coordinated access to housing through a referral agreement struck with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent as part of the contract.  This will ensure that those who need the housing first will be able to receive it.   It will help free up spaces in other affordable housing units, by creating more affordable housing stock in Chatham-Kent.

From Scott Brush

 Indwell always planned to find the full potential of the site when they purchased the St. Agnes school, as did all the other developers who bid, but knew it would take a few phases to reach completion. Indwell shared that vision, focusing on the school renovation as the first phase (24 units). 

The re-zoning process is required for even this first step, and so this is where the larger development picture started to come into focus. The planning process requires Indwell to project the future supportive housing needs in Chatham, consider the site's specific features, and make allowance for things like civic infrastructure. This upfront work has been happening for the past eight months now. We started to share this broader perspective through renderings and discussions last summer during the community barbeque, site tours, and general conversation with community members. The detailed plans were then finalized through the official planning applications circulated this winter and going before Council in April. 

The phasing is where the different unit counts emerge. We settled on 24 apartments as feasible within the school building. As we want to keep the gym for community use, the new-build apartments will then wrap along the two fence lines where we intend to keep the mature trees to maximize visual screening. We can fit 71 units in the new footprint through better designs, which is up from the 61 units we originally thought, for a total of 95 units on the site (instead of 85)

Further, truly affordable housing has rents below the market rate, some housing developers use the term differently than those of us in housing and social services, “affordable housing” requires rents that are at least 20% below average market rates (AMR). Indwell is committed to “deeply affordable” rents even lower than this, as current market rates in Chatham-Kent are very high, over $1500 for a one bedroom apartment (according to Zumper.com). Room rentals in Chatham-Kent are typically advertised for $700-$800 per month. People on lower incomes cannot afford this and have been displaced from previously lower cost rentals when their buildings are sold or renovated. Once a lower cost rental is vacated, it can go on the market for any price that someone is willing to pay. With new people coming into Chatham-Kent every day, the demand is high even for high priced rentals.

Housing Services submitted the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) application on March 15^th and expect to hear an answer early summer of 2023 as the funding requires a project start date of July 2023.  As you may remember, any funding from Chatham-Kent or any movement on the project is conditional on RHI funding.  We believe that the commitment by the municipality makes a case for the 15 million dollar request in capital dollars from the federal government.  Indwell and Chatham-Kent are also working on leveraging capital and operational dollars from the province.  If other funding is received for capital from donations or the province, this will reduce the ask from Chatham-Kent to a lower amount than the 9.7 million committed.   Updates will be provided on this site and through media releases periodically.

Indwell will also be taking their building plans to council making a request for a zoning change.   This is anticipated to go to Chatham-Kent Council on May 15^th after public notice and consultations.   The zooming process is completely separate from all other aspects of this project plan.

New builds often bring concerns from neighbours as they do mean a change to the neighbourhood.  

Affordable housing and even supportive housing already exists throughout Chatham-Kent with the vast majority being located in neighbourhoods beside single dwelling homes – that is the norm, not the exception.  To see where all of the affordable units in Chatham-Kent are located, check out our website and map: Affordable Housing in Chatham-Kent (arcgis.com) . Many of these are municipally owned, but many are operated by private non-profit groups. While these are not labelled “supportive” housing, many do have supports that come in for residents from agencies like March of Dimes, Community Living, Canadian Mental Health Association, Meals on Wheels, Rock Missions,  Employment and Social Services and other agencies.  Homes next to these developments do not have reduced values, and some have co-existed very well for many years.

Some residents seem concerned about the proposed Indwell location not being suitable for people who live on a lower incomes.  Not all residents can live within two blocks of a grocery store or have a bus stop out front of their building, nor do most people require that.  The Indwell location is only 600 meters (an 8 min walk) from  the YMCA and all of the services at 435 Grand Ave W. (ie: public health, social services).  It is only 800 meters from Shopper’s Drug Mart and the Thamesview Health Team and under 1 km from the Thames Lea Mall where there is a grocery store and several shops and amenities that we all enjoy.  Going east, the location is an 8 minute walk to the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and the Chatham-Kent Family Health Team and only 12-15 minutes to various amenities downtown.  The Croyden St location is approximately 1 block from Grand Ave and a bus stop, sidewalks, has streetlights and safe for walking or riding an electric mobility device.  Individuals who do not have that level of mobility would require other means of transportation (no matter where they live) and those providing supports could assist with this.  This is an excellent location to live especially for people who use active transportation; it is close to trails, services, shops, adult education, parks and more.  It is evident that Indwell selects locations carefully.  It is also a myth that their developments are all in downtown areas, they are not.  

There is no reason to believe crime rates will go up in the neighbourhood when tenants move into the building.  Just because someone has a lower income does not mean they commit crimes nor should it determine where they should live (beyond sustainability).  Building affordable housing is well known to stabilize and improve communities and is intended to be part of the solution toward a safe and healthy community.  A 2008 Toronto study showed tenants in supportive and affordable housing contribute to their local economies and bring a vibrancy to the area.  The Ontario Human Rights Commission released a paper that dispels common myths of affordable housing and states that, “affordable and supportive housing developments do not lower property values, increase traffic, or increase crime. In fact, the residents integrate into the neighbourhood well and affordable housing developments fit into the character of neighbourhoods because they go through the same design and building process as other developments” (Ontario Human Rights Commission, 2012).  More recently, the first phase build in St Thomas showed a reduction in police calls in the area by 84%.  In this case, it was because the first phase housed and supported people with the highest needs.