While it may have been overshadowed by another matter, a move by Chatham-Kent council to undertake a new initiative to address homelessness is a step in the right direction.

At its Jan. 15 meeting, council agreed to move forward with a plan that would see the current shelter on Victoria Avenue in Chatham replaced with 50 “transitional cabins.”

A location for the project, which would also include a shared bunkhouse, has yet to be determined, but a request for proposal has been issued and it’s expected that NOW Housing will be among the companies submitting a bid.

The Cambridge-based NOW has experience with similar community-based projects elsewhere, in addition to its primary focus on building modular housing for the retail market.

For the Chatham-Kent project, each transitional cabin, similar to a shipping container, would be roughly 8-foot by 13-foot with a front door and rear-facing window.

Each would include a smoke detector/CO alarm, lighting and electrical receptacles and a key or touchscreen deadbolt lock.

They would be furnished with a bed, mini-fridge, table and chair, shelving and air conditioning/heating.

In a report to council, Josh Myers, director of housing services – operations for the municipality, states that the capital........

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