Chatham-Kent to clear Thames Street homeless encampment ahead of fall construction

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent says it will begin clearing an encampment along the Thames River this month due to construction.

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent says it will begin clearing an encampment along the Thames River this month to make way for critical slope stabilization work scheduled to begin this fall.

Officials say residents sheltering at the encampment at 12 Thames St. have been hand-delivered notices advising them they must move for safety reasons ahead of the project, which will take place between Third and Fifth streets along the northwest riverbank.

The construction is expected to begin in fall 2025 and continue through spring 2026. It is partially funded through the federal government’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.

Municipal officials say they’re working closely with community partners, including ROCK Missions, to support the transition of encampment residents and connect them with services.

Chatham-Kent says the decision follows its Encampment Protocol adopted in November 2024, which outlines where unhoused individuals may or may not shelter on public land when no alternative shelter options are available.

Restrictions include a 100-metre buffer from schools, playgrounds, shelters and other vulnerable-use spaces, as well as a 10-metre setback from private property and a ban on sheltering in public buildings, structures or active parking lots.

Services currently available to unhoused individuals include Victoria Park Place, the Transitional Cabins Project — slated to open in August — and the Homeless Response Line.

A coordinated response involving police, Housing Services staff and outreach workers is scheduled for Monday, July 14, to assist with the safe removal of tents and property from the site. A contractor will then clean and prepare the location for construction.

The municipality says it recognizes the sensitivity of the situation and remains committed to balancing support for vulnerable residents with infrastructure improvements to protect downtown Chatham from future climate-related risks.