The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is reporting that homelessness throughout the neighborhood has jumped by 171 per cent since 2019.
“In December 2019, Chatham-Kent officers knew of 84 individuals who had been experiencing homelessness. As of January 2025, that quantity has grown to round 228 individuals,” said the municipality in a information launch.
The municipality additionally famous that at the moment there are between 75 and 100 people who find themselves staying in 10 identified encampments all through the neighborhood.
The information comes simply days after a homelessness report by the Affiliation of Municipalities of Ontario stating that Ontario is at a “tipping level” in its homelessness disaster with greater than 80,000 Ontarians identified to be homeless in 2024, a 12 per cent improve over 2023.
Municipal officers famous the waitlist for neighborhood housing is now at a file excessive of 1,352 households. The estimated wait time is 10 years. CK Director of Housing Growth Ray Harper informed CK Information Immediately his primary concern lately is the truth that the waitlist grew so giant so shortly.
The Hope Haven drop-in centre is seeing roughly 50 individuals per evening for warming companies and roughly 30 of them keep for your complete night, in accordance with municipal officers. Additionally they added that Victoria Park Place, the momentary municipal homeless shelter, is at the moment at 86 per cent capability (38 shoppers).
The municipality has lengthy been saying that housing with acceptable helps is required and frozen Ontario Works charges and insufficient Ontario Incapacity charges are driving poverty and placing new individuals into homelessness day by day.
Ontario Works charges have remained at $733 since 2019 and Ontario Incapacity charges have elevated 17 per cent from $1,169 to $1,368 prior to now 5 years.
The variety of CK households on Ontario Works has elevated by 18 per cent throughout this time to 2,331 households, stated native officers.
The common “asking hire” in Chatham-Kent has additionally doubled since 2019. Officers famous the common for a one bed room condo has elevated by 115 per cent from $816 to $1,759 per 30 days, greater than double the overall month-to-month revenue of the 1,400 single candidates in CK receiving Ontario Works.
Municipal employees, Council, and native advocacy teams proceed to foyer the Provincial and Federal governments for elevated funding, further sources, and expanded applications to assist with this rising situation.
Municipal Council has lately authorized further homeless helps, together with extending the Hope Haven warming centre to be open in a single day, growing ROCK outreach companies to seven days every week, and approving the transition from congregate shelters to transitional cabins.
“Inexpensive and Supportive Housing stays a Municipal precedence and employees and companions will proceed to reply with urgency to this rising problem,” the municipality reiterated.
