Vol. 8, Issue 5
Free of Charge
Homeless
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Nice shot
One year into the pandemic, housing shortage has become full-blown crisis TROY SHANTZ & GEORGE MATHEWSON THE JOURNAL
S
arnia-Lambton has reached an “unprecedented emergency” with all shelters full and more than 200 homeless men, women and children being put up nightly at hotels and motels. “We’ve had a drastic increase in the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness,” said Ian Hanney, Lambton’s supervisor of homelessness prevention and social planning. “We’ve had a steep and rapid incline. We’ve had all hands on deck at the county, internally
and with our community partners, to address what’s been an unprecedented emergency.” A shortage of housing was already a problem when COVID-19 arrived one year ago. The pandemic has increased the number of people without a roof, and it has limited homeless shelters by forcing them to reduce bed numbers to meet safety protocols. Good Shepherd’s Lodge currently has 215 people in its care — 17 at the Confederation Street shelter and the rest staying at overflow motels. The facility is also struggling with a COVID-19 outbreak. Six residents and three staff had tested positive as of Monday. Continued on 7
Sarnia eyes SCITS property
O
CATHY DOBSON THE JOURNAL
pinions differ on the former SCITS building, but almost everyone seems to agree the 100-year-old Sarnia landmark should not be demolished. Heather Martin is the CEO of Vision Nursing & Rest Home located directly across the street. Now that the building is on the open market, she’s concerned it will fall into the wrong hands and be razed. The non-profit that Martin works for hasn’t made an offer to buy the property from the Lambton Kent District School Board, but is still considering it, she said. “It’s under discussion at the board, but there needs to be a viable business plan and we’re not there yet. Our biggest
worry is that it will become derelict, especially if the school board lets it go to someone who isn’t local.” While Martin favours Vision buying the school and 9.2 acres for development, that’s not her decision to make, she said. Vision has made no secret of its interest in 275 Wellington St. One idea is to convert the school into 90 to 100 apartment units, with a commercial element such as restaurants or retail. Continued on 3
DEAR READERS:
We will not be publishing a print edition on March 18. The next regular newspaper will be March 25. For the latest local news, visit the website at www.thesarniajournal.ca or on Facebook.
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✔ Lots of inventory to choose from ✔ Fast Free Delivery ✔ We service what we sell ✔ No-interest payment plan ✔ Shop safely - we observe social distancing and sanitize all contact surfaces ✔ Avoid crowds: Always 2 families or less in our store at any time
NINETY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD Joan Hurry receives her first dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, administered by RPN Mariela McGrath at a Lambton Public Health vaccine clinic at Point Edward Arena on March 6. Public health administered 180 shots to the 90-plus crowd and their essential caregivers. TROY SHANTZ The Journal
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