Homeless support cash falls short in C-K: McGregor

1
4385

By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

When it comes to provincial funding to address homelessness and mental health initiatives, it looks like Chatham-Kent is being left out in the cold.

That according to Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor following the news that C-K was bypassed to host a new HART (Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment) Hub, as well as only receiving $282,800 to address encampment issues, while smaller jurisdictions received millions.

“Chatham-Kent faces many challenges, ” McGregor told The Voice, “but none larger than the lack of provincial support for the growing social issues our community faces.”

A total of 18 new HART Hubs will take shape in Ontario this spring, including centres in Sarnia, Windsor-Essex, London and Oxford County. When completed, there will be 27 hubs in Ontario, with some of the hubs located at former safe drug consumption sites the province closed down.

All told, the government is creating 540 supportive housing units and addiction recovery and treatment beds under the HART program, as part of $529 million in investments.

As for recently announced provincial cash to “wind down” encampments, Chatham-Kent was near the bottom of the list, eclipsed only by the City of London which only received $75,000. The city of St. Thomas garnered $4.1 million under the program, while neighbouring Sarnia-Lambton received close to $3 million.

Rural Norfolk County, with a population of less than 80,000, got $2.3 million – 10 times the amount awarded to Chatham-Kent.

Critics are wondering if Norfolk’s hefty cash influx has anything to do with the fact Mayor Amy Martin is running for the Progressive Conservatives to try and unseat Haldimand-Norfolk independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady.

Brady, a former assistant to long-time PC MPP Toby Barrett, has clashed with Premier Doug Ford at Queen’s Park. In April 2024, Ford pointed his finger at Brady in the Ontario Legislature and told her she would be “out of a job” in the next election.

Brady is again running as an independent.

In an email message, the acting director of housing for Norfolk said there are 126 people in that municipality on what’s called the by-name list. Norfolk does not have a shelter but it does operate an Emergency Housing Program (EHP) with 14 beds and an Out of the Cold room used for placements after hours, which runs as a quasi-shelter.

Support staff is on hand to help with re-housing clients, the official said, and a local church group helps house people overnight during the winter months.

At present, Chatham-Kent has 222 names of homeless individuals on its by-name list and an overall population of around 111,000.

McGregor said C-K is facing significant challenges in addressing encampments and homelessness, noting Ontario municipalities continue to face budgetary pressures related to provincial downloads.

“We’re picking up the slack and providing services that have traditionally been the responsibility of the province,” he added. “When funding opportunities do open up from the province, it is disappointing to see Chatham-Kent under-supported.”

Eric Labadie, the municipality’s head of communications, said the latest funding will be divided amongst 51 households, providing cash for housing supports, such as paying first and last month’s rent.

Attempts to contact Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Trevor Jones and Lambton-Kent-Middlesex Steve Pinsonneault about the funding were unsuccessful.

1 COMMENT

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here