The Municipality of Chatham-Kent (CK) is learning that expanding emergency, transitional, and supportive housing to reduce the homeless crisis will be pricy and difficult.
A staff report going to CK's council on Monday night estimates the municipality needs to boost its emergency shelter units from the current need of 50 to 54, double the transitional housing units currently required from 73 to 141, and increase the needed supportive housing units from 139 to 193 over the next five years to help address and meet the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness.
The report estimates show that operating the current need for all housing would cost $8.9 million per year, while operating an additional 50 supportive housing units (the most expensive) would range, at a minimum, from $1.5 to $2 million annually.
The municipality would also have to spend over $58.6 million on the current need alone, most of it (up to $48.6 million) on supportive housing, according to the municipality's administration.
Administration also noted that rent-geared-to-income and affordable housing are lacking in Chatham-Kent, with the current rent-geared-to-income need growing from 1,200 to 1,564 units over the next five years, and the need for affordable housing units increasing from 800 to 1,043 during the same period.
"While there is a focus to increase emergency, transitional, and supportive housing in Chatham-Kent, it is important to recognize that emergency and transitional housing options are temporary solutions. Individuals will require permanent housing that they can move into, such as rent-geared-to-income or affordable housing, as many individuals who stay in emergency or transitional housing are unable to afford market rent," wrote the administration.
The municipality reported the number of people experiencing homelessness in CK reached unprecedented levels last year, with an average of 228 individuals each month being listed as homeless, the highest annual monthly average to date.
"At its peak in 2025, the By-Name List identified 259 individuals, representing the largest number of people experiencing homelessness ever recorded in Chatham-Kent," the staff report showed, adding that the number of individuals experiencing homelessness in CK is expected to continue to grow to approximately 300 by 2028.
Staff noted that out of the 228 homeless people on average every month, 127 of them were living on the street.
