By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Chatham-Kent’s transitional 50-cabin tiny homes development is moving ahead – but it comes with a sizable price tag.
In a 15-1 vote Sept. 9, council greenlighted spending $3.8-million to fund capital costs on the initiative expected to begin this fall.
That breaks down to $76,000 per unit, albeit not factoring the support buildings and infrastructure.
Cambridge-based NOW Housing has been contracted to supply the buildings at the Park Street East location in Chatham.
Intended to replace the Victoria Park Place homeless shelter, the development will see the construction of a community building, one washroom pavilion, a security cabin, a utility cabin, as well as 50 cabins.
Several concerns were raised by councillors during the meeting. Chatham Coun. Michael Bondy, the only councillor to vote against the proposal, wondered if the tiny home development might become a draw of sorts for people outside Chatham-Kent.
“This seems like a pretty good gig,” Bondy told council, adding he’s heard there’s “busloads of people” coming from Toronto.
“Can we legally discriminate against these people?” Bondy asked. “I don’t have a Chatham-Kent passport.”
North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville also questioned how the municipality will control people from using the services who don’t have “true familial ties” to Chatham-Kent.
In response, director of housing services Josh Myers, said staff have access to a provincial database allowing them to pinpoint the communities where people come from. Those from outside C-K are offered return transportation to their home communities.
“For our municipally funded programs, we are very clear when someone is contacting us that is it is for C-K residents who have a familial or residency background,” Myers said, noting those who call the homelessness hotline are immediately connected with a support worker.
Less than five per cent of C-K’s homeless are from other communities, Myers stressed, noting every community in Ontario is facing the same issue, and bigger centres are able to offer more.
“I don’t see C-K becoming a destination for services,” Myers explained.
Other councillors took aim at the lack of support from upper-tier governments to address the homelessness issue – despite the fact it’s a provincial responsibility.
“I really hope our provincial counterparts hear our cries for help and come back to the table and support us,” said Chatham Coun. Alysson Storey.
South Kent Coun. Anthony Ceccacci thanked staff for their work on the homelessness file, noting the problem is both difficult and costly.
“Nobody wants to see this kind of money being spent on something we really should be getting from the upper levels of government but we have no choice at this point,” Ceccacci said.
C-K chief financial officer Gord Quinton said there’s been no commitment to date from either the federal or provincial governments to help out with funding.
The cabin development will be paid for through a 15-year internal debenture, with the final amount to be determined following completion. The total will include any additional upper-tier funding that may come C-K’s way.
