By: Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
Social disorder related to addiction, mental health, homelessness and poverty dominated the agenda at Chatham-Kent council April 13.
To that end, elected officials unanimously approved three motions at the meeting, following lengthy discussion on a wide range of topics – including funding recovery beds for alcoholics and drug addicts waiting for treatment.
According to South Kent Coun. Ryan Doyle, who has been working on the issue, there’s a “significant gap” for folks waiting to get into treatment after they leave detox at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
“There’s “nowhere for them to go” Doyle told council, due to the lack of a phase 2 withdrawal management program. He used the example of Ryan’s House in Sarnia which has 12 beds available to support people who find themselves in between detox and recovery treatment.
Trying to stay sober while waiting to get into a recovery facility is difficult for people forced to return to the streets, Doyle said, noting it stops people from attempting sobriety.
“They’re not even starting recovery in the first place,” Doyle said.
In speaking to the issue, Coun. Brock McGregor said the gap illustrates the need for transitional supportive housing, showing how closely linked people’s outcomes are to a lack of available housing.
“The biggest determinant of an outcome is their income and their housing,” McGregor said.
Doyle’s motion directed administration to perhaps collaborate with the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance to examine the possibility of creating a municipally funded home similar to Ryan’s House, currently operated by Bluewater Health at a cost of around $750,000 per year. Projected capital and operating costs and funding sources for a C-K facility will be probed as well.
“My hope is that we set this up infrastructure-wise and CKHA operates the home and within a year or two, we go back to the province and say, ‘This is what we’ve set up,’” Doyle told council, and then ask for funding similar to Ryan’s House which is funded by the province.
Jubenville seconded Doyle’s comments, stating Chatham-Kent needs to “take the bull by the horn” and “do it ourselves.
“Hopefully the province will see what we’ve done and potentially support us after,” Jubenville said.
Council also reviewed an information report from staff on options to expand emergency housing, as encampments can’t be cleared unless a municipality can provide beds for those who are pushed out.
“The report give us an idea of the scale of the issue,” said Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor, who put forward the motion asking for the report.
According to McGregor the issue is huge, noting the problem can’t solely be addressed by the municipality.
“We’ve known that this has been getting worse for a decade,” he said, adding the homelessness issue stems from inadequate income supports.
“I think it also demonstrates how important it is, that we advocate to the federal government and provincial governments because the scale of this issue is enormous and we are going to need all levels of government to work together to solve it,” McGregor said.
The report outlined how C-K’s homelessness numbers continue to rise. In 2025, there was an average of 225 each month within the municipality.
Jubenville said her biggest concern is the lack of a low-barrier homeless shelter, noting resources at the tiny cabins shelter are being exhausted due to residents who are still actively using drugs.
“I like the idea of exploring to see if there are any community partners that might be willing to work with us on emergency housing,” Jubenville said. “I do think this is something that is missing in Chatham-Kent.”
Chatham Coun. Amy Finn agreed with Jubenville.
“I think at the rate the unhoused numbers are going, I don’t think we can build transitional housing fast enough,” Finn said, adding the emergency shelter topic needs to probed.
The homelessness issue has been a hot topic in C-K following the relocation of Chatham’s largest encampment from the downtown to the grounds of the water treatment plant on Grand Avenue East last summer. Upset neighbours sparked a public outcry, noting an increase in crime in the area after the encampment took root.
The report to council will define what low-barrier means, as well as the long-term budget implications an emergency shelter could have in the future.
The municipality is currently working on developing a strategic housing plan that will return to council later this year.
The meeting also saw council approve $55,000 in spending for an independent consultant to evaluate Chatham-Kent’s encampment response protocol.
Chatham Coun. Michael Bondy put the motion forward, following an information report.
Bondy said the idea is to bring outside people in who specialize in dealing with homelessness, adding he thinks it’s worth it.
“To have outside eyes…they don’t know anybody, there’s no agenda, there’s no political agenda, this is their job,” Bondy said, emphasizing the topic is an “emotional” one for people.
How C-K handles the tiny cabins transitional housing at Pathways on Park is also part of the review. In addition, administration has been directed to bring back recommendations from the report to council for further approval.
