Although additional funding to address homelessness is helpful, officials with the County of Lambton say in order for the issue to be resolved more funding to increase the current housing stock is needed.
The Ontario government recently unveiled its 2023 budget which included an additional $202 million to be invested annually into the Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) and Indigenous Supportive Housing Program (ISHP).
For the County of Lambton, the increase amounts to $2.04 million, bringing the total amount of program funding up to $5.6 million.
“This is extremely important new funding for our community and will help in the effort to ensure everyone has a safe place to call home,” said Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey in a statement. “The Ontario government continues to take the necessary steps to address the growing challenge of homelessness in Lambton County and across the province.”
Social Services General Manager Valerie Colasanti said the county is "very pleased" to receive an increase in funding, as the region has seen a 400 per cent increase in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Colasanti said the funds will be used to assist in programming but the biggest challenge is currently housing stock or the lack thereof.
"So these dollars are not going to be enough to build new housing so we'll continue to look for funding both from the county, the province, and the federal government to increase our housing stock," she said. "But what this will do is it'll assist us with dollars for supports. So once someone is placed successfully into a unit, we'll be able to provide the support services they need to ensure that they remain housed."
Lambton County opened an emergency shelter in March, in partnership with the Inn of the Good Shepherd, to act as an overflow for the current shelter system. Colasanti said it has been heavily depended upon since doors opened.
"We are seeing it being used every evening," she said. "It's not at full capacity, which is great, we're hoping always to have a couple of beds in case someone else does experience homelessness throughout the day."
As specified in the 2023 Ontario Budget, $190.5 million will be allocated to the HPP annually, while the remaining $11.5 million will go to the ISHP.
