Heather Wright/The Independent

Lambton is getting more money for affordable housing for people living in the rough and cash to clean up the encampments as they leave.

The province, in its last minute spending spree before the election call, gave the county over $2.9 million out of a $75 million fund to wind down encampments and move people into safe accommodations.

Valerie Colasanti, general manager of social services for Lambton, says in mid-December, the province announced it would provide up to $75 million with temporary supports for those who are homeless and cash for government to build affordable housing.

The funding, she said in a report to council, was tied to clearing out encampments in local parks.

Colasanti says Lambton received over $180,000 to help top up rents when people who were homeless find homes in the community. The fund will provide up to 80 per cent of the market rent for people living in transitional housing.

Colasanti added the plan is to move those already in shelters into permanent homes “so that it would free up space within the shelter and transitional (housing) to allow people to move from the encampment.”

Lambton also receives $429,812 to clean up encampments in the community. Colasanti says the county has “earmarked” $104,000 to help the City of Sarnia clean up Rainbow Park once the inhabitants have left. It has to be spent by March 31. She says the money cannot be used for security costs the city incurred.

The rest of that money will be spent on expanding shelter spaces, including five permanent beds for women in need at the Inn of the Good Shepherd. Colasanti says about 33 per cent of the people living rough in the county are women.

Five temporary spots will also be set up at the Inn’s resource room. “The funding will go both for the small repairs that need to happen, and for the staff, security, food, cleaning, all those things that come with having additional individuals.”

The lion’s share of the cash – $2.3 million – will be applied to affordable housing units already being built. Colasanti says the county has two housing projects underway; the much-delayed Maxwell Park Place modular build which is years behind due to a legal battle, and a $5.1 million project on Kathleen Ave. Lambton asked for $7.4 million in the application.

Colasanti says they haven’t been given details of the funding yet from the government but adds “it’ll go to one of those developments which is great news for the county.”