A request from the City of Sarnia to the County of Lambton for financial assistance to support ongoing health and safety measures implemented at Rainbow Park, including portable washrooms, was denied.
County councillors in Wyoming Wednesday agreed to receive and file the request.
Manager of Homelessness Prevention and Children's Services Melissa Fitzpatrick told council funds in the $9.3 million homelessness prevention budget are spoken for and allocated.
"As far as flexibility, we are already contributing to the homeless prevention budget, so of the $9.3 million, $1.7 comes from the levy and the remaining federal and provincial dollars have very strict guidelines, which remain housing focused," said Fitzpatrick. "So, our priority has to be to invest in programs and services that move folks along the housing continuum."
Mayor Mike Bradley was hoping for action, and to see funds reallocated to help with the immediate issues plaguing Sarnia.
"It's not a theory, it's not just something that we're philosophically thinking about," said Bradley. "Reallocating some of those funds, and that to me would be a really good signal that we're all in this together and we're not just going to leave the City of Sarnia abandoned to deal with this crisis which is hitting every large city in Ontario."
St. Clair Township Mayor Jeff Agar disagreed, and said the county has not left the city to fend for itself.
"We are all in it together, we've proven that," said Agar. "We've put lots of money into all this, there's lots of shelter space to accommodate. It's not our fault that they don't want to give away their passion for drugs and stuff like that. So, I cannot agree to the words you're saying that we're not putting forward, we are."
Meanwhile, a notice of motion brought forward by Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley requesting staff to advise as to the role of the county, should a member municipality wish to pursue an injunction to address encampments in municipal parks, was passed.
Staff will present a written report to council at a later date.
Warwick Township Mayor Todd Case also presented a motion to county council Wednesday that if the City of Sarnia chooses to end the encampment, that the county of Lambton support the city with the mandated social services for which the county has a responsibility to provide.
That motion also passed.