Lambton County adds affordable apartments: notebook

Lambton County adds affordable apartments notebook

Lambton County added two new apartment units created from unused or under-used space in existing affordable housing buildings in Sarnia.

Lambton County added two new apartment units created from unused or under-used space in existing affordable housing buildings in Sarnia.

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A one-bedroom apartment was created at 230 Capel St., from part of a lounge space and a bachelor apartment was added at 124 Queen St., using storage space, the county said.

Renovations needed for each of the new apartments cost about $125,000.

Tenants were selected from the county’s housing waiting list and are expected to move in later this month.

“We are looking for additional opportunities to complete similar projects and add more units in our current buildings, and other unique ways to increase the number of housing units we have available in Lambton County,” Melisa Johnson, the county’s manager of housing services, said in a news release.

Province announces funding for county’s museums

The province announced about $70,000 in funding for the Oil Museum of Canada in Oil Springs and Lambton Heritage Museum in Lambton Shores.

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The museums are operated by Lambton County.

The funding from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming includes operating grants for the current year of $46,700 for the Heritage Museum and nearly $21,000 for the Oil Museum. The museums also received $1,100 in pay equity funding.

Lambton warden elected vice-chairperson of wardens’ caucus

Kevin Marriott, warden of Lambton County and mayor of Enniskillen Township, was elected vice-chairperson of the Western Ontario Wardens Caucus at its annual meeting.

The group represents 15 Southwestern Ontario municipalities, advocating on their behalf with the provincial and federal governments.

Kevin Marriott, warden of Lambton County and the new vice-chairperson of the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, is shown with the group’s new chairperson, Mayor Amy Martin of Norfolk County. (Handout) Handout

Norfolk County Mayor Amy Martin was elected chairperson for a one-year term, which began Jan. 10.

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“By prioritizing housing, infrastructure, workforce development, and addressing mental health, addictions, and homelessness, the WOWC will continue to advocate for solutions that drive progress and improve quality of life for residents across Southwestern Ontario,” Martin said in a statement.

Funding sought for housing and homelessness services

Lambton County hopes to access provincial funding to help with affordable housing projects and local efforts to find permanent housing for people living in encampments.

The county seeks $7.4 million from a Last Mile Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative.

That includes $2.3 million to help pay for construction of an addition underway at the Maxwell Park Place affordable housing site in Sarnia. Construction of 24 apartments for seniors, including six March of Dimes supported units, is expected to be completed in early spring, according to a county report.

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Lambton also asked for $5.1 million to help with the cost of an affordable housing project to be built on Kathleen Avenue in Sarnia.

Pending approval of a site plan and building permit, construction on the project is expected to begin this year and be completed before the end of 2026. It will hold 50 one-bedroom apartments, including 14 March of Dimes supported units, the report said.

The county also seeks a $186,100 top-up in provincial funding for a supplement program helping individuals living in shelters find housing. The report said the additional funding could help about 34 people.

The county also wants $326,000 to extend emergency housing and restore encampment sites, the report said.

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