With several Chatham-Kent residents still facing homelessness, the municipality is hoping to continue providing them with a safe place to stay.
A report going to council on Monday night recommends that the Employment and Social Services Department enter into a 12-month agreement for 32 rooms at the Travelodge Hotel in Chatham.
The agreement would be with hospitality company Sunray Group and, if approved, would run from June 1, 2021 until May 31, 2022, with the potential of an extension for 12 additional months.
On April 30, 2020, the municipality opened up an emergency isolation shelter at the John D. Bradley Centre to provide a place for homeless individuals to safely isolate themselves during the pandemic.
To allow the Bradley Centre to resume bookings, the sheltering program was moved to the Travelodge Hotel. During the move, the Employment and Social Services Division also shifted from an emergency shelter model to a housing-focused model called the Chatham-Kent Emergency and Rapid Re-Housing Program (CKERRP).
"While Rapid Re-Housing Program staff have made successful housing placements every month, even during lockdown periods, the need for emergency and transitional housing is exacerbated by the current lack of affordable and supportive housing options," the report read. "Prior to the pandemic, motel rooms alone were used for emergency sheltering but there have been few vacancies with so many community members seeking lower-cost accommodations... CKERRP is a housing-focused emergency housing program, and as such this model has allowed the division to remain focused on what they do best, moving people back to housing."
According to the staff report, the CKERRP also allows staff to remain on-site at the Travelodge to support homeless individuals during their stay, which helps avoid conflicts between hotel guests and helps to keep units in good condition. Staff also help coach individuals for independent living and work towards an overall goal of securing permanent housing.
Since moving homeless individuals to the Travelodge in September 2020, the social service department has provided 263 people with a total of 198 nights of accommodation. The team has also been able to find housing for 57 people who were previously homeless by using the CKERRP.
The move to the Travelodge was made during the province's initial state of emergency and was originally intended to be a short-term solution. However, the social service department is now requesting entering into a longer-term agreement with the hotel until additional plans can be secured.
"The demand for emergency housing is expected to continue through the next few years until there is a significant increase in affordable and supportive housing options and an increase in mental health and addictions services in Chatham-Kent," stated the report.
The Employment and Social Services Department is currently paying $99 per night per room for 31 rooms. If the municipality enters the 12-month contract, Sunray Group will lower the costs to $79 per night per room for 32 rooms, resulting in a savings of $187,000 for the year.
The rental costs are 100 per cent provincially funded.
According to the report, most rooms at the Travelodge have double occupancy and allow for safe social distancing. There are also two isolation rooms for individual stayers who have spent time out of Chatham-Kent or who are awaiting COVID-19 tests.
The department will continue to rent a small number of rooms from other hotels and motels periodically.
"For several months, employment and social services staff have been monitoring the homelessness crisis and seeking more sustainable, cost-effective, emergency housing options... Early estimates show that owning a building versus renting the current average number of rooms could save 80-90 per cent in space-related operational costs, but would require capital investment," the report stated. "Until a longer-term solution is in place; renting these rooms, operating a shelter out of another location like John D. Bradley Convention Centre, or turning up to 60 people out into the streets are the only options."