By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Winter’s biting temperatures have prompted officials at Hope Haven to open their doors to the homeless overnight.
And on the first evening, Dec. 2, a total of 41 people sheltered at the Wellington Street site to escape the cold.
According to general manager Loree Bailey, staying open overnight is being done in part to stave off the threat of people lighting fires inside tents within encampments – something that could lead to injury or death.
“I can tell you that people will do whatever they can to stay warm,” Bailey told The Voice. “They’re burning whatever they can find in coffee cans inside their tents. It’s going to get colder and we had to make a decision to stay open.
“People are going to die and I think as a community we can do better than that,” Bailey stressed.
The downtown Chatham outreach is now open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. each day in addition to its daily daytime hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On average, the agency is seeing 80 people visit in the daytime slot.
Many walk over from the encampment that’s taken root near Harvey’s restaurant in Rotary Park in downtown Chatham.
“Some just come for a hot coffee or a bowl of soup,” Bailey explained, noting attendees can have a hot shower, do laundry, use a computer or phone and get something to eat or drink.
“People have different needs,” she added, explaining those who visit Hope Haven are not all homeless. “Some are hungry and don’t have groceries. Some don’t have heat in their homes.”
In an administrative report to council in November, it was stated there are approximately 10 encampments in Chatham-Kent where some 200 people are living. The Victoria Park Place shelter is presently operating at its 45-bed capacity.
“I don’t want people to think this will eliminate the encampment problem,” Bailey explained. “It will not. But it will mean people are not forced to have fires overnight.”
Bailey said the charity had planned to approach Chatham-Kent council Dec. 9 to help fund Hope Haven’s expanded hours, asking for $65,000 in funding to see the overnight program through to March 2025.
If approved, the funding would build on the existing agreement between the municipality and Hope Haven that sees the charity open its doors when temperatures dip to beyond -5C.
As of press time, council’s decision was not known.
The initial program is already approved for $25,000.
Donations are always welcome, Bailey said, and E-transfers are currently preferred as the Canada Post strike has hampered people sending in cheques via the mail.
E-transfers to the agency can be made at chathamhopehaven@gmail.com.
Hope Haven began operating in 2017 in a former church on Wellington Street as a day program, increasing its services in response to the pandemic. It serves both men and women.
Anyone experiencing homelessness is asked to call the homeless response line at 519-354-6628. Anyone experiencing homelessness and is in need of Hope Haven’s services overnight may call the shelter at 519-351-4010 and transportation may be available.
