A Sarnia towing company is looking to haul displaced youth to a safe place to live.
Preferred Towing owner Tammy Vandenheuvel received city council support Monday to pursue plans for a transitional housing facility, for people between the ages of 16 and 24.
"Our vision is that the community comes together and participates a little bit," Vandenheuvel told council. "These are our youth, they need some support, they need some mentoring, they all come from different backgrounds and for various reasons are homeless. Not necessarily because they're on drugs, but because they come from dysfunctional families, have been kicked out and have no place to go. They're youth, they need help to move on and I'm hoping that everybody can embrace that."
Sarnia council approved the rezoning application for the former ABC Daycare site, at 811 London Rd. -- a property Tammy and her husband Gary recently purchased.
She says the temporary residence, for youth experiencing a housing crisis, would include as many as seven self contained units, each with up to two beds, a washroom, kitchen and living room.
Vandenheuvel says the location is ideal.
"It's on the bus route. It's very close walking distance to many amenities, like the hospital, the walk-in clinics, services like Rebound, to the Bayside Mall," she said. "We're trying to position this where they're going to get the best use out of the area and hopefully the best support."
Councillor Matt Mitro praised the plan.
"I think it's a great idea," said Mitro. "I think it's a great use of a building. It sounds like it can be a really great thing."
Sarnia-Lambton Rebound confirmed in October that rent free space had been offered to them in the building.
Executive Director Carrie McEachran said The Hub's advisory committees were consider the offer.
No further announcements have been made.
