Heather Wright/The Independent

Lambton County wants to know what your ideal community looks like and how social housing fits into that.

The Housing Services department is doing a housing survey to better understand the current and future housing needs in the area. Part of that is a survey to find the public perspectives on what an ideal community looks like and what kind of housing is needed.

Lambton helps over 2,000 residents with housing, either through affordable apartments, cooperatives, rent supplements and affordable housing programs.

In 2023, Lambton politicians declared affordable housing its main priority. A number of projects are in the works, some, like the addition to Maxwell Park Place, have been bogged down in construction troubles. Others, like the new affordable housing units on Kathleen St. in Sarnia, are well underway.

The county is also planning a 50-unit supportive housing project on George Street in Sarnia with Indwell, a Christian agency which has several housing units for those desperate for housing and have addiction issues.

The survey also touches on how people feel about those projects

Melissa Johnson, manager of housing services, says the feedback will “help guide our future planning and decision making and ensure it reflects the values and priorities of the residents of Lambton County.”

The information will be part of a Housing Needs Assessment which will go to county council in 2026.