Displaced residents by Chatham apartment fire now moved to dormant Dresden retirement home

As many as 50 people displaced by an August fire at a Chatham, Ont., apartment complex are being moved to temporary housing.

The municipality says it's entered into an agreement with new ownership of Park StreetPlace Retirement Residence in Dresden about 25 minutes northeast of the city.

The retirement home was sold, and closed, earlier this year after a provincial regulator revoked its licence finding the home failed to provide proper care and that it operated in an "irresponsible" and "incompetent" way.

According to Eric Labadie, spokesperson for the municipality, residents will be served three meals per day and will be able to come and go as if it was a hotel or motel type living situation.

More than 100 people were forced to leave their homes due to a late August fire at the 99 McNaughton Avenue West gear-to-income apartment complex.

Labadie says the move is temporary without a timeline going forward.

"There are no plans to convert this property into a shelter in the future," he said in a statement.

"Beginning today, staff are working to relocate impacted tenants and will be offering placements until units are restored."

Transportation is also being arranged for all residents to get to the Dresden location.

The municipality says it's also assisted 35 other tenants with alternative options while another 25 tenants have found their own housing.