Ongoing criminal activity surrounding the shelter at the former Laurel-Lea St. Matthew's Presbyterian Church in Sarnia has sparked calls for action.
During Wednesday's Lambton County Council Committee of the Whole meeting, councillor Chrissy McRoberts appealed to her colleagues and staff to explore what can be done to mitigate the situation.
"I've spoken with the chief and I sit on the police board in Sarnia and I see that the activity around Laurel-Lea is still as high as ever," said McRoberts. "I'm asking the council, through social services what more can we do to protect the community around this?"
McRoberts anticipates the situation may get worse as we approach the winter months, and the facility is busier with individuals seeking shelter from the cold.
"I'm talking about the violence right on the Laurel-Lea property, on the front lawn and in the driveway," she said. "The drug use happening, it's all still right there. I'm not necessarily saying in the backyards of everybody in that Melrose area, but the folks that are right around it...we've got to figure something out."
Lambton GM of Social Services Melissa Fitzpatrick said a number of mitigation strategies, including additional security and patrols, were implemented at the 35 bed shelter over the last several months.
She said staff track any incidents with police, security and clients.
"I think I can report that our experience perhaps is a little different than what is being reported by the neighbours," said Fitzpatrick. "Absolutely there is a lot of traffic and a lot of coming and going from this facility, but I do believe that between our staff interactions and our security patrols, security presence, the amount of unfavourable activity from that site has decreased over the last few months."
Fitzpatrick said she recognizes from the neighbours' perspective that perhaps it's still too much for their liking.
"We can certainly look at our current model or system and look for efficiencies or better ways to patrol that space, recognizing of course private security companies have no jurisdiction beyond the boundaries of the property itself, they are not police officers."
Earlier this month, Fitzpatrick told county councillors the Exmouth Street shelter is currently operating at between 80 and 90 per cent capacity.
