Encampment strategy to come before council

In an effort to balance human rights and safety concerns, Chatham-Kent’s proposed encampment response strategy will come before council Monday night.

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The strategy outlines setbacks, such as from schools, playgrounds, sidewalks and cemeteries, along with other regulations governing the sites on public property.

Tents or other structures would have to be freestanding, and a minimum of two meters away from other structures to ensure fire separation and emergency service access.

There would be no tolerance for violence or other criminal acts, with sites maintaining a level of reasonable cleanliness.

“This approach does not resolve homelessness but does offer a consistent approach until a coordinated plan, led by the federal and provincial governments, is implemented,” staff said in an agenda report posted Thursday.

Also recommended is amending the current sole-source agreement with Reach out Chatham-Kent to increase housing-focused outreach services to seven days a week ending March 31, 2025.

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The director of housing services would be authorized to approve additional sanitation, garbage removal, and when necessary for the purposes of enforcement, security services.

The cost of increased supports and services is not to exceed $85,000 annually and would be funded through reserves.

“Removal of encampments from public spaces, regardless of whether there is a bylaw that restricts that type of activity on the space, may not be possible without ensuring there is adequate shelter space for the people living in the encampment,” the protocol stated.

“Furthermore, the shelter spaces or other living arrangements must be sensitive to accommodating couples, must be accommodating of people with disabilities, and must operate in a manner that a person with an addiction can use and be supported by the shelter. Simply, it is not just a matter of adding more shelter beds in Chatham-Kent to respond to encampments.”

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Encampment removal must be a last resort, the report says, noting it can have “serious consequences on the wellness of the person living in the encampment and can be traumatizing in itself,” given the potential loss of documents, medications and personal items.

“It is important to note that the removal will mean that the person moves to another unsheltered location and thus the encampment is moved, not solved.”

Encampments on private property are a police matter, not subject to the proposed strategy. Owners can contact Chatham-Kent police with concerns about encampments on their property.

In August, the municipality launched a survey to gather input from the public and businesses about homeless encampments in the community.

To view the proposed encampment protocol, visit https://pub-chatham-kent.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=16573

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