Chatham-Kent encampment dismantled as Monday deadline passes

CBC

a day ago

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Municipal authorities in Chatham-Kent have followed through on dismantling a homeless encampment located in Rotary Park near the Thames River in downtown Chatham.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent issued an eviction notice on July 2, 2025 in order to carry out federally-mandated construction work. That deadline was Monday, and while most in the encampment had moved last week, about a dozen people remained Monday morning.
The process was carried out Monday in collaboration between Chatham-Kent municipal authorities, Reach Out Chatham-Kent (R.O.C.K) and the police department.
Finding a home
Director of housing services in Chatham-Kent Kim Crew says that R.O.C.K.'s involvement has been vital in this process, where so many people are worried about being relocated.
"Our partners at R.O.C.K. have been meeting with folks daily for them to pick a new location of where to go that meets within the encampment protocols that our council passed last November," Crew told CBC News.
Chatham-Kent's encampment protocol prevents people from setting up shelter near schools, playgrounds or along private property lines.
People in the encampment have said that the deadline, the complexity of the protocol and mixed messages from different authorities, have created confusion in where to go next.
The vast majority of campers left last week, but some remained Monday. People in the park were expected to not only move, but to have also picked out a new spot for relocation.
Chatham Kent's Public Utilities Commission has allowed access to a piece of land near Chatham-Kent's water plant that falls within the encampment protocol.
R.O.C.K.'s executive director Renee Geniole says that is where the majority of people from the Rotary Park encampment have chosen to go.
"It's very stressful and traumatic for people who are living day-to-day and are in survival mode," Geniole says. "They're worrisome about who's going to support them — they get a lot of negative flashback from our community already."
"A lot of times they feel like they're on their own, so we have to step in and let them know that we're here to help.
Billie Jo Humphrey, a resident of Chatham-Kent, has expressed concern over the relocation close to the water plant — where her elderly mother lives nearby.
"My mom's 76-years-old with Alzheimer's," Humphrey says. "She can let anyone in that building and she doesn't know not to."
"It's either here or some other place. Here, they're affecting people that are seniors."
When asked by CBC News why a police presence was necessary on deadline day, Crew responded that she hopes that it won't be required.
"So far everyone has been willing to work with us," she said. "It really helps that we have our outreach partners R.O.C.K. here because relationships have been built."
Crew added that the encampment is symptomatic of the housing crisis in both the region and the country.
"We in Chatham-Kent don't have enough affordable housing, we don't have any supportive housing and we are lacking funding from our provincial and federal governments," Crew said.
Community relief
For some local community members, the operation today brings both a sense of relief, but also empathy for the people that have been relocated.
Brian Fraser is a long time member of the Rotary Club of Chatham.
"I'm relieved I guess you could say," Fraser says. "Since the encampment started last summer our Rotary Club has been patient and empathetic with those who are here."
"I hope that this is a solution and the needs of all people of the municipality of Chatham are looked after."