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Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Chatham-Kent encampment dismantled as Monday deadline passes
Municipal authorities in Chatham-Kent have followed through on dismantling a homeless encampment located in Rotary Park near the Thames River in downtown Chatham. The Municipality of Chatham-Kent issued an eviction notice on July 2, 2025 in order to carry out federally-mandated construction work. That deadline was Monday, and while most in the encampment had moved last week, about a dozen people remained Monday morning. The process was carried out Monday in collaboration between Chatham-Kent municipal authorities, Reach Out Chatham-Kent (R.O.C.K) and the police department. Finding a home Director of housing services in Chatham-Kent Kim Crew says that R.O.C.K.'s involvement has been vital in this process, where so many people are worried about being relocated. "Our partners at R.O.C.K. have been meeting with folks daily for them to pick a new location of where to go that meets within the encampment protocols that our council passed last November," Crew told CBC News. Chatham-Kent's encampment protocol prevents people from setting up shelter near schools, playgrounds or along private property lines. People in the encampment have said that the deadline, the complexity of the protocol and mixed messages from different authorities, have created confusion in where to go next. The vast majority of campers left last week, but some remained Monday. People in the park were expected to not only move, but to have also picked out a new spot for relocation. Chatham Kent's Public Utilities Commission has allowed access to a piece of land near Chatham-Kent's water plant that falls within the encampment protocol. R.O.C.K.'s executive director Renee Geniole says that is where the majority of people from the Rotary Park encampment have chosen to go. "It's very stressful and traumatic for people who are living day-to-day and are in survival mode," Geniole says. "They're worrisome about who's going to support them — they get a lot of negative flashback from our community already." "A lot of times they feel like they're on their own, so we have to step in and let them know that we're here to help. Billie Jo Humphrey, a resident of Chatham-Kent, has expressed concern over the relocation close to the water plant — where her elderly mother lives nearby. "My mom's 76-years-old with Alzheimer's," Humphrey says. "She can let anyone in that building and she doesn't know not to." "It's either here or some other place. Here, they're affecting people that are seniors." When asked by CBC News why a police presence was necessary on deadline day, Crew responded that she hopes that it won't be required. "So far everyone has been willing to work with us," she said. "It really helps that we have our outreach partners R.O.C.K. here because relationships have been built." Crew added that the encampment is symptomatic of the housing crisis in both the region and the country. "We in Chatham-Kent don't have enough affordable housing, we don't have any supportive housing and we are lacking funding from our provincial and federal governments," Crew said. Community relief For some local community members, the operation today brings both a sense of relief, but also empathy for the people that have been relocated. Brian Fraser is a long time member of the Rotary Club of Chatham. "I'm relieved I guess you could say," Fraser says. "Since the encampment started last summer our Rotary Club has been patient and empathetic with those who are here." "I hope that this is a solution and the needs of all people of the municipality of Chatham are looked after."
CBC
5 days ago
- General
- CBC
Chatham-Kent encampment dismantled as Monday deadline passes
Social Sharing Municipal authorities in Chatham-Kent have followed through on dismantling a homeless encampment located in Rotary Park near the Thames River in downtown Chatham. The Municipality of Chatham-Kent issued an eviction notice on July 2, 2025 in order to carry out federally-mandated construction work. That deadline was Monday, and while most in the encampment had moved last week, about a dozen people remained Monday morning. The process was carried out Monday in collaboration between Chatham-Kent municipal authorities, Reach Out Chatham-Kent (R.O.C.K) and the police department. Finding a home Director of housing services in Chatham-Kent Kim Crew says that R.O.C.K.'s involvement has been vital in this process, where so many people are worried about being relocated. "Our partners at R.O.C.K. have been meeting with folks daily for them to pick a new location of where to go that meets within the encampment protocols that our council passed last November," Crew told CBC News. Chatham-Kent's encampment protocol prevents people from setting up shelter near schools, playgrounds or along private property lines. People in the encampment have said that the deadline, the complexity of the protocol and mixed messages from different authorities, have created confusion in where to go next. The vast majority of campers left last week, but some remained Monday. People in the park were expected to not only move, but to have also picked out a new spot for relocation. Chatham Kent's Public Utilities Commission has allowed access to a piece of land near Chatham-Kent's water plant that falls within the encampment protocol. R.O.C.K.'s executive director Renee Geniole says that is where the majority of people from the Rotary Park encampment have chosen to go. "It's very stressful and traumatic for people who are living day-to-day and are in survival mode," Geniole says. "They're worrisome about who's going to support them — they get a lot of negative flashback from our community already." "A lot of times they feel like they're on their own, so we have to step in and let them know that we're here to help. Billie Jo Humphrey, a resident of Chatham-Kent, has expressed concern over the relocation close to the water plant — where her elderly mother lives nearby. "My mom's 76-years-old with Alzheimer's," Humphrey says. "She can let anyone in that building and she doesn't know not to." "It's either here or some other place. Here, they're affecting people that are seniors." When asked by CBC News why a police presence was necessary on deadline day, Crew responded that she hopes that it won't be required. "So far everyone has been willing to work with us," she said. "It really helps that we have our outreach partners R.O.C.K. here because relationships have been built." Crew added that the encampment is symptomatic of the housing crisis in both the region and the country. "We in Chatham-Kent don't have enough affordable housing, we don't have any supportive housing and we are lacking funding from our provincial and federal governments," Crew said. Community relief For some local community members, the operation today brings both a sense of relief, but also empathy for the people that have been relocated. Brian Fraser is a long time member of the Rotary Club of Chatham. "I'm relieved I guess you could say," Fraser says. "Since the encampment started last summer our Rotary Club has been patient and empathetic with those who are here." "I hope that this is a solution and the needs of all people of the municipality of Chatham are looked after."
CTV News
5 days ago
- General
- CTV News
New homeless encampment draws concern as Thames Street site is cleared in Chatham
Chatham is clearing out a homeless encampment along the riverbank as crews prepare for construction. CTV Windsor's Chris Campbell reports. As crews prepare to begin slope stabilization work along the Thames River in downtown Chatham, a longstanding homeless encampment on Thames Street is being dismantled — and a new one is already drawing scrutiny just several blocks away. The municipality set a deadline of Monday for residents of the encampment to leave. While outreach workers are helping people relocate, some nearby residents and officials are expressing concern over where people are now going, including a growing encampment on the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission property along Grand Avenue. Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission sign seen in Chatham, Ont. on July 14, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) 'We gave folks a deadline of today, but we'll be a little bit flexible with that,' said Kim Crew, director of housing services for Chatham-Kent. 'But folks, for the most part, have picked their new location, and we're just making that happen today.' The municipality has said it is not dictating where people must go. 'Folks that are unsheltered have the right to house themselves on municipal property,' said Crew. 'As a municipality, we are not dictating a location for them to go to. We are simply making sure that it falls within the encampment protocols that council passed last November. So, folks do really get to choose their own location. It's not the municipality dictating where folks need to go.' Chatham Thames encampment Tents at Rotary Park Downtown seen in Chatham, Ont. on July 14, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) Chatham-Kent councillor Michael Bondy said the new encampment caught council members off guard. 'Nobody saw it coming, to be honest. City council wasn't informed. It just happened,' Bondy said. 'We knew the former tent city had to be vacated today, but we weren't told of where the new location would be. Whether this is municipally sanctioned. I can't seem to get an answer, to be honest. Does it fall within the parameters of our bylaw? Maybe. Maybe not. But there are some very unhappy neighbours.' Bondy said residents have been calling throughout the weekend with concerns. 'We've heard a lot from a lot of people over the weekend, and I can't say it's been positive,' he said. 'There is no solution. If there was, Los Angeles would have done it 50 years ago. They're going to go somewhere. This apparently falls within the legality of it all. So, like others have said, we can't control it as long as it's legal.' Chatham Thames encampment Tents at Rotary Park Downtown seen in Chatham, Ont. on July 14, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) He added that he doesn't believe municipal land should be legal. 'I think it's all of our land. I don't think people should be able to live on it and effectively destroy it, which is what happens because it's not kept very tidy as one could reference the former tent city, which is being evacuated today (Monday), which I just drove by,' Bondy said. 'And it's going to need some serious remediation. So, I can understand the frustration 100 per cent.' The situation is also prompting concern from nearby business owners and residents. Stephanie Laforet, who owns The Esthetic Studio near the former encampment, said the impact over the past two years has been difficult. 'It's been very difficult the last couple of years with the encampment for all the small businesses,' she said. 'We're looking forward to it to bring safety back to our community and a little more peace of mind for the residents and the business owners of this area. This whole time has been very difficult for everybody. Our safety measures have had to increase. We've had to add extra alarm systems and things like that. Leave at specific times and have the buddy system so that everybody is safe at night leaving.' Others, like Billie Jo Humphrey, said they're especially concerned about the new Grand Avenue location, which is near where her elderly mother lives. 'I feel that it's very wrong for them to put them close to a building with a lot of older people and people that, my mom has Alzheimer's, and she likes to wander,' she said. 'Now that they've moved this close, it's scaring me because my mom is 76 years old with Alzheimer's, she can let anybody in that building and she doesn't know not to.' Chatham Thames encampment The Chatham riverfront encampment clean up seen in Chatham, Ont. on July 14, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) While she expressed frustration with the visible effects of homelessness, Humphrey also acknowledged the human reality behind it. 'It's just hard for me to see that people like this need to be on the streets. They need help up to get out and get on to their feet,' she said. 'If you cannot pay your rent, that is your fault. You have to take responsibility for your needs. You need to figure out something to get on your feet and get off of other people's property and just be able to do what you need to do.' R.O.C.K. (Reach Out Chatham-Kent), one of the main outreach partners working with unsheltered residents, said the transition from the Thames site has been relatively smooth so far. 'It's been a long few days, but it's been going quite smoothly,' said executive director Renee Geniole. 'They are people. They are our community members. We try to dispel those myths all the time that they're not being dropped off by other communities. They're not bussing them here. These are Chatham-Kent born and grown folks and it takes a community to help support an issue.' The municipality continues to rely on its encampment protocol to manage the movement and oversight of unsheltered residents, while also encouraging those in need to connect with available services. Chatham Thames encampment A tent at Rotary Park Downtown seen in Chatham, Ont. on July 14, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) 'Folks can call the homeless response line in town, which is (519) 354-6628 and have conversations about eligibility for our current emergency shelter,' said Crew. 'We do have spaces open right now that folks can go into. And then that will transition folks into the transitional cabins when we get to that point.' But long-term, she said more must be done to address the root of the crisis. 'We do have a lack of affordable housing in our community. Our centralized waitlist is reaching about 1400 folks right now,' Crew told CTV News. 'We know that social assistance rates haven't gone up, and there's just an affordability issue with folks being able to secure units and rental units. So that impacts the homelessness crisis and increases it beyond what we can keep up with.' Crew said funding is desperately needed from provincial and federal governments to offer supportive housing. 'We desperately need more affordable housing. The Tiny Cabins is an amazing project. It will only put a dent in the in the crisis that we're seeing.'
