The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is proposing an Emergency Housing Partnership with Chatham-Kent Hope Haven to jointly deliver an overnight shelter at Hope Haven (183 Wellington St West).

The businesses of the downtown core area are bullying the homeless to keep them out of the downtown area. These downtown businesses want to hide the homeless but, what they do not understand is Hope Haven is not “re-opening”. Hope Haven has been open and, will continue to be open.
Hope Haven has been operating a day program which provides a safe “haven” for those homeless to get something to eat, do laundry, take a shower, use the computers, use the telephone, or sit and watch some tv. The day program Hope Haven has been providing to the homeless has been operating through the pandemic and, has serviced 12,000 clients within the last year with minimal police presence.
Does it not make sense to use a service that is already being provided, already equipped with most things needed to run a overnight program and, has already trained staff willing to commit to providing this service to these clients?

Downtown Chatham is where the homeless need to be to be in close proximity to the food bank, churches, bus depot, legal clinic and, hospital. Not only is Hope Haven’s location perfect for these homeless people it is also a familiar place to them. Most of them already use the services of Hope Haven on a regular basis so, it just makes sense that all the services they need are basically in one building.

We are asking Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Cannif and Council to support the proposed partnership. We are asking that you will sign this petition in favour of the proposed partnership between Chatham-Kent Employment and, Social Services & Chatham Hope Haven. We, the taxpaying citizens of Chatham-Kent need to fight for the homeless people in need because, they cannot fight for themselves. We have to be their voice. Please I am asking you to sign this petition and, be their voice.  They don't need to be hidden away.  They need to be where they can access the services they need to get out of homelessness.  A vibrant downtown needs to be an inclusive downtown.  They are counting on you as a taxpayer, a neighbour. 

First they are human, second they are homeless.