Chatham-Kent councilors gave the OK to a tender to buy and install 50 transitional cabins on a site in southeast Chatham.
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However, they also implored senior levels of government for additional assistance in dealing with the housing and homelessness crisis.
During Monday’s meeting, staff had recommended a $2.3-million request for proposal from NOW Housing for the cabins, along with a community building, washroom pavilion, security cabin and utility cabin.
The total capital costs for the project of $3.8 million, which include the estimated pre-site development work, cabin procurement and installation costs, would be funded through the issuance of a 15-year internal debenture, with the final debenture amount determined post-completion and factoring in any senior government funding received.
“(It’s) obviously symptomatic of an issue communities are facing across North America,” Chatham Coun. Alysson Storey said.
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In April, council voted to pursue the development of a transitional cabin program on municipally owned properties at 378, 390 and 392 Park St. in Chatham.
The cabins will replace the Victoria Park Place shelter, located on Murray Street. The lease on that property expires in May 2025.
Storey said the City of Peterborough is undertaking a similar initiative.
“They’re a few months ahead of us and it looks like theirs is going relatively well,” she said. “So I hope we can model our success, if that is the right term in this context… (and) learn from their experience.”
In July, council authorized administration to use $440,000 received from the province’s Building Faster Fund for capital expenses related to the cabin project, stated a staff report.
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Housing services staff will operate the site, providing 24/7 case management staffing that focuses on securing community housing, life skills training and community referrals.
The project will consist of two phases:
Phase 1: Pre-site development work:
– This phase includes engineering services to provide servicing specifications and procurement to complete the site servicing works, such as grading and site services.
– Engineering works are underway.
– These works will be funded from the $500,000, approved in April 8, however additional funding will be required to support these services.
Phase 2: Procurement of structures:
– This phase involves the procurement of services to supply the proposed structures.
– Entails the installation of these structures at the site, accounting for the fabrication time required to implement this program.
– The proposed work is planned to begin this fall and be completed by the end of April 2025.
West Kent Coun. Lauren Anderson believes all levels of government need to shoulder the financial burden.
“We do not have the funding from the federal government and the province to take all this on as a municipality,” she said. “We’re doing the best that we can.”
This story will be updated.
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