The County of Lambton is pleased to see Ontario's PC government maintaining investments to improve community housing for Sarnia-Lambton's most vulnerable.
MPP Bob Bailey announced Thursday that $4.6 million is being allocated locally to help sustain, repair and grow community housing and help end homelessness.
An investment of $2,276,742 is going to the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative, the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative receives $1,029,000, the Home for Good program $864,312, and affordable housing $392,890.
"With the homelessness dollars, under the Community Homeless Prevention Initiative, we received the same dollars that we've received for the last few years, with a very slight increase," said Social Services General Manager Valerie Colasanti. "As you know, homelessness has been an issue in Lambton County with the recent cold we had this year. The Inn [of the Good Shepherd] was at overflow and we were having some challenges finding places for people to stay. So we're pleased that those dollars remain the same."
Colasanti said the funds allocated to the Home for Good program, which provides rent supplements to those in need, are the same.
She said the dollars directed toward new builds appear to be a bit lower than other years.
Colasanti said some of the programs are new and have a slightly different focus, so they'll be doing a full analysis and reporting their findings to county council.