A report by the division says encampments are only created when no other options are available.
A plan to explore setting up a sanctioned tent city for Sarnia’s homeless isn’t supported by Lambton County’s social services division.
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The division overseas government funding of services for those experiencing homelessness in Sarnia and the rest of the county.
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Coun. Chrissy McRoberts, who sits on both the city and county councils, recently received city council support for her request Sarnia staff look into allowing a tent city for individuals experiencing homelessness and not staying in shelters.
Valerie Colasanti, general manager of the county’s social services division, said the division was asked by city officials if it would agree to a sanctioned tent city.
“Based on our research and best practices, we certainly would not agree to operate a sanctioned tent city,” Colasanti said during a county council committee meeting Wednesday.
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“There are all kinds of issues that happen with an encampment, including violence,” as well as fires as individuals try to stay warm in the winter, she said. “We certainly wouldn’t sanction an encampment.”
A report by the division says encampments are only created when no other options are available, and Lambton has “an adequate number of shelter spaces to accommodate local needs.”
Recently, the county and the Inn of the Good Shepherd opened a seasonal emergency shelter, Out of the Cold, with 28 beds in a former church building on Exmouth Street which also operated last winter. It’s in addition to the permanent shelter spaces in the city.
“We will continue to work with anyone who is outside,” Colasanti said. “We’re going to encourage them to come into our low-barrier shelter.”
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She added, “There may be some who choose not to, but at this time we’re recommending against a sanctioned encampment.”
The report points to a federal housing advocate’s review of homeless encampments that says they should only be created when all options have been exhausted, and should include services such as food, water, health care, electricity and sanitation.
That would duplicate support the county is providing at the seasonal shelter which is also the site of its housing and homelessness resource center, the report says.
It said the county couldn’t find any examples of sanctioned encampments in Ontario, other than a Waterloo Region’s managed encampment which is home to up to 50 individuals who each have their own small cabin equipped with electricity and heating. A main cabin complex at the site provides running water, washrooms, laundry and space for meals.
It has an estimated cost of more than $2 million, the report said.
The county already is using all available funding to operate the seasonal shelter and the resource center, with no additional provincial or federal homelessness funding available to service a sanctioned encampment, according to the report.
The division previously said its homelessness outreach team in September had contact with 66 individuals who slept outside at some point.
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