It was standing room only as those for and against a supportive housing development had their voices heard at Sarnia City Hall on Monday.
A screen was set up in the lobby as an overflow room for those unable to fit in council chambers for the special council-led public consultation meeting regarding Indwell's supportive housing project planned for George Street.
There were 35 registered speakers and 17 written submissions on the issue.
Wendy McKay, a nurse practitioner who lives in Mitton Village, spoke in favour of the project, saying many of the future tenants are already living in the community.
"There are reams, and reams of studies, and it's just common sense that until somebody has supportive housing, until they have safety, until they have food security... they cannot begin to address their mental health and addictions, employment and education," McKay said.
"I read a lot of concerns about crime, public substance use and safety concern... the solution is safe housing," she added.
Jenny Das provided a personal perspective of the support her daughter, who experienced mental health issues while away at university, has received living at an Indwell facility in Hamilton since 2015.
"We feel our daughter may be one of Indwell's greatest unknown success stories," an emotional Das said. "Why do I think that? Our daughter went on to complete her studies, including a PHD, and a second Masters, and now has her first full time job."
Das said her daughter achieving steady employment is "beyond what we would have ever imagined possible 10 years ago."
"Indwell gave her a place to become who she was meant to be," Das said. "When she was earning enough money she started paying market rate. Indwell has not told her 'it's time to move on' and our daughter does not want to leave, she just feels that she should leave so that someone with a greater need can now have her place."
Das said her daughter is ready to buy a house and wants to live in the same neighbourhood.
"We have nothing but positives to say when it comes to Indwell. They don't just build homes and leave, they build communities within their homes. They're also very good neighbours," Das said. "It really saddens me to see the signs that say, 'No Indwell. We are already doing our part.'"
Chris Beausoleil, a resident of Essex Street, told council he predicts the project is "going to fail" and citizens living in encampments and emergency shelters will suffer, but he thinks "there is a way to make this project work."
"Indwell has many types of facilities," Beausoleil said. "This proposal is not for the muffin bakers and house sitters. It is for people who struggle with drug addiction, or serious mental health issues, or a history of crime... or a combination of the three. By what logic does concentrating 50 such troubled people in a residential neighbourhood not put families there at risk?"
He asked council to call another special meeting immediately and instruct city staff to form a joint working group to identify alternate sites and have Indwell transfer the George Street site back to the County of Lambton.
Melissa Mitchell, a resident of Sarnia's downtown and heritage district, expressed her opposition saying the project would "oversaturate an already stressed community."
"Our community is at a tipping point," Mitchell said. "We've always supported the most vulnerable residents and our neighbourhood is home to vital services, like River City Vineyard, a future HART Hub and numerous other support services for those working through and experiencing homelessness, mental health and addiction. I respect the work that Indwell is offering for our community, but the situation in our neighbourhood specifically has reached a breaking point."
Mitchell said their "daily reality" includes increased police presence, crime, violence, overdoses, trash, and discarded drug paraphernalia.
"Last week I picked up discarded needles, on Saturday night, walking the dog, I picked up a knife at the corner of Maria [Street] and Vidal Street. I can't do this every single time I walk the dogs. It's simply unsustainable," Mitchell added.
Kathy Demeester, a George Street resident, also spoke against the project after detailing current safety issues.
"I truly feel if we bring 50 people into our neighbourhood, it will not be safe," Demeester said. "I feel bad for the dozen children that are living within my block. Families will be wanting to move and getting a lot less for their homes because of the neighbourhood."
Former Sarnia city councillor Nathan Colquhoun received a warning after starting his delegation with an expletive.
His microphone was eventually cut off and he left the podium lifting his shirt and flashing those in the audience. You can view the spectacle about 60 minutes into the broadcast on YouTube.
At the start of the meeting, Mayor Mike Bradley reminded the public it was not a statutory planning meeting, there were no rezoning considerations and it was an information meeting.
Indwell Community Homes is planning to build 51 units at a vacant site on George Street, recently donated by the County of Lambton.
Local residents were disappointed public consultation was not held regarding the planned project beforehand, and voiced their concerns during an open house in June.
