Contention growing over proposed supportive housing project in Sarnia

CTV News

14 hours ago

The message couldn't be more clear.
Signs reading 'No Indwell- We are already doing our part,' have been erected around the very property on George Street in Sarnia that Indwell Community Housing hopes to develop a supportive housing project.
Those same signs can also be found on front lawns throughout the neighbourhood.
'They're coming around all drugged up and everything. We take them out of the corner over there. I'm security there. Walking by. They're stealing all around here,' exclaimed resident Tim Huggett, who has one of the signs on his own front yard. He was referring to people who frequent a homeless shelter already located in the neighbourhood.
Across the street, neighbour Kathy Demeester says she lives in fear.
'I don't know if it's booze, drugs, whatever. They have addictions, mental issues, and we just don't need any more here,' she said.
Lambton County has donated vacant land at 333 George Street for Indwell to develop the supportive housing project. The Christian-based housing charity is proposing a building with 50 deeply affordable apartments, which would include wrap-around supports.
In an interview with CTV News, Indwell CEO Jeff Neven said he hopes people can understand that what Indwell does is very different from a homeless shelter.
'Oftentimes we think about a shelter as somebody who needs a place to rest tonight. But then they have to go out onto the street and make their way and look for things like food and things during the day. Very different, what we're talking about is affordable housing. And with supports on site to help people to connect with services in the community,' said Neven.
And the project does have supporters, such as Paul, who chose not to provide his last name. He disagrees with detractors.
'I don't know what our part is? What part are they doing that helps these people out? There's no price for human dignity, there's no price for a human anywhere. I lived on the streets. I know what it's like. I didn't have this kind of help. So I just think it's wrong. But these people say they're doing their part. They're doing nothing,' he said.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley says the city has not yet received a formal planning application for the Indwell project. In the meantime, he says he's been disappointed by the discord in the community over the proposal.
'Some of these emails I've seen on both sides of the issue aren't helpful. They're confrontational. They're often with information that is inappropriate or not factual. Our job is to sort through this and come up with a solution that's good for the community,' explained Bradley.
Sarnia City Council is holding a special meeting on the Indwell proposal Monday.