There's been significant progress over the last year on different supportive and affordable housing projects planned in Sarnia-Lambton.
That's from the President of Flourish, a social purpose real estate development services company, Graham Cubitt.
Lambton County Council received an update on local projects during Wednesday's regular meeting in Wyoming.
Cubitt said the site of the former St. Bartholomew's Church has been secured for future development and demolition has taken place.
He said work on a 50 unit supportive housing project is also planned for a piece of vacant land at 333 George Street in Sarnia, directly across from the newly built Aura apartments. The land was recently donated by the County of Lambton.
"We are very open to offering tours," said Cubitt. "Supportive housing it's hard to imagine it, it's hard to see it in your mind. There's not a lot of examples around to say oh I know what supportive housing is. So, we find when people come and actually see, walk through, meet tenants, see how the programs function and how staff interact, that is one of the most effective ways for people to have their concerns addressed."
Lambton County Warden Kevin Marriott said there is a pressing need for supportive housing in our community.
"This project will work towards meeting that need and supports Lambton County Council’s number one priority of increasing availability of affordable and supportive housing. We’re looking forward to working with the knowledgeable team from Indwell to provide important services to residents in need," said Marriott in a news release.
Indwell Regional Director Natasha Thuemler said she understands neighbours have concerns and questions when there's word of a new project launching.
"But if we look at St. Thomas as an example, which has had a steadfast commitment to supportive housing, we really see external organizations and partners like the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness and the St. Thomas Police Service really stepping forward and publicly proclaiming the impact supportive housing does have on decreasing and maintaining homelessness and also the positive association with improved community safety," said Thuemler.
There's a neighbourhood drop-in meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 10 at the Lochiel Kiwanis Community Centre on College Avenue where residents can learn more about the George Street project.
"This isn't the first project that Indwell would have been working on in terms of designing supportive housing," said Cubitt. "The concept thus far does incorporate all the feedback, all the input that we've learned over numerous projects through southwestern Ontario, in particular some of the experiences recently in St. Thomas and London, so very open to those conversations with neighbours."
The drop-in meeting will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.