Province, municipality announce funding for displaced residents

By Greg Coulter

WHEATLEY — As the painstaking search for the source of the sulphide gas continues, some residents

in Wheatley began to see some much-anticipated changes on Wednesday, November 17.

Greg Rickford, Ontario’s

Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, was on hand with Chatham Kent offi-

cials Mayor Darrin Canniff, CAO Don Shropshire, Chatham-Kent’s top administrator and West Kent Councillor Melissa Harrigan to announce $3.8 million in funding to Wheatley residents impacted by the August 26 explosion. “There is a committed effort by all levels of government to assist the displacedresidents,” was a sentiment echoed by all involved. Councillor Melissa Harrigan has been instrumental in making sure the media has accurate information.

"We appreciate your ongoing support ensuring accurate information is provided to the public during a very stressful time for many in Wheatley," said Harrigan.

Several local officials made comments, including Chatham-Kent CAO Don Shropshire, Employment and Social Services Director Polly Smith, Director of Economic Development Services Stuart McFadden and Lauren Anderson of the Wheatley BIA Disaster Relief Fund.

New Funding Announcement Details

Each household will receive $3,000, plus an additional $1,500 for each member of the household. No receipts need to be submitted for this portion.

For those who have found permanent housing, they will receive a one-time payment of $8,000 to help cover housing costs. They are also eligible for a $4,000 one-time moving cost (utilities hook-ups, furnishings, etc.), but must submit receipts for these expenses. Residents in temporary housing can receive up to $,4,000 for rent from September 2021 to March 2022. They must submit monthly documents and receipts to qualify.

Those who are temporarily housed with family or friends can received up to $500 per month to help offset the costs of the household.

Case managers will provide all evacuated residents with an application and program guidelines. Affected residents apply for the lump sum funding, and if they have had extra housing costs they can apply for those expenses as part two of the application. Housing costs can also be applied for at a later date and are reviewed monthly.

Households can apply directly to the province once they receive the application, or case managers can assist them with the application in person or over the phone. The households should receive payments within 2-3 weeks of applying.

The province would like the lump-sum payments to be completed by the first week of December.

Wheatley Business Recovery Update

After one-on-one interviews with all the businesses, it was determined that there are two areas of need:

1) Immediate financial support due to revenue loss.

2) Funding being required when businesses are allowed to reopen. Phase 2 funding is to support costs incurred that might not be covered by insurance and other extraordinary costs businesses will realize before they can reopen.

There has been $800,000 set aside for Phase 1 and $1.2 million for Phase 2. Any funds not extended in Phase 1 are automatically transferred to increase Phase 2 funding availability.

The Phase 1 application was launched on November 1 and as of Friday, November 19, of the 39 businesses and not-for-profits eligible for Phase 1 funding, the municipality has received 28 applications; 24 of these have been fully processed and funding has been deposited in the amount of approximately $450,000. The municipality is working on the other four applications and hopes to have these finalized as soon as possible and funding extended.

MINISTER RICKFORD

The municipality has also heard from a few businesses who felt they needed some additional time and after a discussion with the co-chairs of the BIA, agreed to extend the deadline until Friday, November 26.

Additional financial support has been provided through the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. Residents and property owners are also expected to access their personal insurance and resources.

Home Inspections and Residents Access

As of November 17, 13 homes were inspected with the owner’s permission to determine if the premises were safe. Representatives included air monitoring experts who entered the home first to measure gas, the Chief Building Officer who inspected the property to ensure no structural damage and technical advisors. No homeowners were part of this process.

There were no major issues with the 13 properties accessed Wednesday, although one had water in the basement.

On Thursday, five homeowners were allowed to enter their homes that were deemed safe from Wednesday’s evaluation. In addition to the homeowner, representatives included an insurance agent, contractor for winterization, and movers to assist with refrigerators and freezer removal.

The municipality has also requested permission to remove and dispose of refrigerators and freezers. After several months without hydro, these appliances need to be disposed of rather than cleaned. The provincial financial assistance provides funds to replace furnishings.

In some cases, property owners have authorized their insurance agent access to inspect the home and winterize the property with the support of trades people.

The municipality is taking the lead in the overall management of this, including the coordination and safety aspects of the project.

Insurance companies are involved if the business or homeowners want them involved. Each household and business can also designate two people to retrieve items that are important or that they need, within a one-hour time frame.

Wheatley BIA Disaster Relief Fund

According to Lauren Anderson, the total amount donated by the community to the Wheatley Disaster Relief Community Fund is just shy of $225,000.

“We have been able to give over $100,000 back to displaced residents and businesses,” she said. “Anyone that has applied for the funds has received money. Further, through household donations we have been able to outfit several rental, hotel and other situational places where displaced residents are staying.”

Crews were spotted on Talbot Street in Wheatley on Friday, November 19 as they hauled away appliances from businesses and homes within the evacuation zone.

SUN photo by Greg Coulter

All applicants will receive a letter from the committee to learn more about them and seek out if there are any other immediate needs they require.

Community representatives Lauren Anderson, Kim Grant and Erika Renwick meet with CK, family social services and the province twice a week to ensure the needs and concerns of affected residents are addressed and advocated for.

“That’s good news about the provincial funding,” said Anderson. “This funding from the government will surely assist everyone very much.”

The committee encourages the community to continue to donate so that once this situation is resolved and everyone allowed back to their homes, they can assist further with any needs that the governments or insurance may not cover.

“The support from the Wheatley community has been so overwhelming and heartwarming,” added Anderson.