BlackburnNews.com file photo of Valerie Colasanti, Director of CK Employment and Social Services (Photo by Simon Crouch)BlackburnNews.com file photo of Valerie Colasanti, Director of CK Employment and Social Services (Photo by Simon Crouch)
Chatham

Council To Discuss Homeless Strategy

CK`s Housing and Social Services department is set to give a status report on their homelessness prevention plan.

Around 600 individuals and families experienced homelessness within the last year in Chatham-Kent. It`s a number officials have been trying to bring down since the inception of the Housing and Homeless Steering Committee.

Officials say the nearly $1 million in funding from the province`s "Ontario Renovates" program has helped. In addition to assisting with rents and placing down payments for residents, the money's also gone towards constructing four affordable rental units. Unfortunately, the waiting list for affordable housing can still be as long as three years.

During tonight's meeting staff will ask for council's approval to hire three new positions within the housing department, with their salaries paid for by the province.

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(left to right) SPS Deputy Chief Michael Van Sickle and Acting Chief Mike Federico. June 25, 2026. (Photo by Natalia Vega)

SPS turns off comments

SPS Board Chair Kelly Ash said the decision followed discussions with Acting Chief Mike Federico and aligns with practices at other police services.

(File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo Inc. / dehooks)

Scoreboard, June 26

The Toronto Blue Jays dropped their third in a row Thursday, 6-5 to the visiting Texas Rangers, and the Detroit Tigers suffered a 2-1 loss to Houston.