Editor: Recent public statements about the cabins program suggest that it is achieving “success,” but the evidence offered does not support such a conclusion.
Municipal housing director Kim Crew has pointed to nine residents who have moved from the cabins into long-term housing. While this is positive for those individuals, it ignores the broader reality: Dozens remain in the cabins or in encampments, and there is no documentation showing whether those who were housed have managed to stay housed.
True success in homelessness programs is measured by long-term housing stability – at least one year – not by brief, unsupported transitions.
Another troubling detail is that eight cabin residents have been evicted for violence, property damage, and open substance use. During the years the shelter operated on Murray Street, people were expelled for similar behaviours often ended up in nearby neighbourhoods, where families and children bore the impact. When behaviours deemed unacceptable in a managed environment spill into surrounding communities, the system is not working as intended.
Coun. Brock McGregor has stated that providing harm reduction is part of the municipality’s responsibility. But provincial guidance is actually broader. Ontario Health’s Social Determinants of Health Framework emphasizes a shift from managing illness to promoting overall wellness, recovery, and stability. Harm reduction alone does not achieve these goals.
Chatham-Kent deserves an honest assessment of what is working and what is not. Sustainable housing, behavioural supports, neighbourhood safety, and a focus on recovery – not just crisis management – are essential. Until these elements are in place and measured transparently, it is premature to call the cabins program a success.
Susan Simpson
Chatham
It’s really easy to complain and not offer any solutions.