1,700 square-foot addition could hold 42 new beds

Heather Wright/The Independent

There could soon be more permanent shelter beds in Sarnia at the Good Shepherd’s Lodge.

Lambton County is planning an expansion at the Confederation St. facility for up to 42 new permanent shelter beds.

The County of Lambton set up a temporary shelter at the former Laurel Lea Church on Exmouth St. in 2023 to bring a growing number of people living rough inside. The Inn of the Good Shepherd, which has its own facility on Confederation St., operated the site.

But neighbours were angry as shelter users stayed in the Melrose area after the shelter closed for the day, openly using drugs and trespassing on their property.

In April, Lambton County staff said the number of people using the temporary overflow shelter had declined as people found homes. But, Melissa Fitzpatrick, general manager of social services, said there is still a need for extra beds. A housing study showed there would be a need for more shelter beds well into the future.

Wednesday, Fitzpatrick unveiled a plan to put a 1,700 square-foot-addition with internal renovations to the existing shelter at the Lodge. It would create up to 42 new beds with Fitzpatrick saying only 25 would be operated initially. The edition would cost about $988,000, using taxpayers dollars.

Fitzpatrick says building a new shelter would have cost $4.2 million.

She adds since the Good Shepherd’s Lodge is already zoned for a shelter, only minor approvals would be needed from Sarnia city council to move ahead.

Fitzpatrick expects the new spaces would be available by the fall of 2027 with the temporary shelter at Laurel Lea Church would closing after the new beds are in place.

Lambton county councillors gave approval of the project at the committee of the whole meeting Wednesday. The project still needs final approval at the full council meeting in July.

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley welcomed the plan but suggested the county should meet with the neighbours to talk about the expansion plans “so people can deal with the facts, not what they’re hearing from other sources,” he said.

“Watching all the stuff on social media, the first casualty is usually the truth.”