Lambton County's Out of the Cold emergency shelter reopens Monday, October 23.
The shelter will be operated and overseen by the Inn of the Good Shepherd, but supported closely by the county's social services division.
Homelessness Prevention Manager Melissa Fitzpatrick said it will operate from 5 p.m. until about noon the next day.
"We needed to determine a site in the City of Sarnia for the overflow emergency shelter," said Fitzpatrick. "Sadly our main shelter on Confederation Street is not able to keep up with the need for emergency housing. We partnered with the former Laurel-Lea St. Matthew's Presbyterian Church [on Exmouth Street] last year in 2022 and we've been lucky enough to keep that space for this year into next spring."
One side of the site will be used for emergency housing, while the other will continue to operate the Housing and Homelessness Resource Centre during the afternoon hours, Monday to Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
"Patrons staying at the emergency shelter will have an opportunity in the afternoons to connect with other service providers, such as the Canadian Mental Health Association, we have North Lambton Community Health Centre partners attending, as well as community paramedics, and access to housing applications," she said.
Over the past year, Fitzpatrick said the outreach team has helped about 40 individuals -- who previously lived on the street -- into more permanent housing.
"It's really assisting them with a lot of the work that they need support. Even the basics of helping some folks get their birth certificate, or make applications to subsidized housing, or apply for private market rent," she said.
Fitzpatrick said just under 300 people are currently experiencing homelessness in the county.
She said the outreach team interacted with 66 individuals who had slept outside at some point during the month of September.
"The overflow Out of the Cold program will have space for 28 males, so that's in addition to the spaces that are available at the Good Shepherd's Lodge," Fitzpatrick said.
To reduce the impact on neighbours, security will support the site 24/7, including multiple guards on overnight shifts.
Lambton Public Health has also installed a community sharps disposal bin at the location.
