Our vision for Lambton County
Every person has an affordable, suitable and adequate home to provide the foundation to secure employment, raise a family and build strong communities.
What is homelessness?
The Canadian definition of Homelessness describes homelessness as “the situation of an individual, family, or community without stable, safe, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect means and ability of acquiring it.”
The Indigenous definition of homelessness considers the traumas imposed on Indigenous Peoples through colonialism. According the definition of Indigenous Homelessness in Canada, it is “a human condition that describes First Nations, Métis and Inuit individuals, families or communities lacking stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means or ability to acquire such housing…Indigenous homelessness is not defined as lacking a structure of habitation; rather, it is more fully described and understood through a composite lens of Indigenous worldviews.”
What is Lambton County doing about homelessness?
Lambton County's Homeless Prevention Framework is designed to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness locate and maintain long-term housing. Supported by the Federal Government’s Reaching Home Strategy and the Provincial Homelessness Prevention Program, a community-wide network of partner agencies utilize evidence-informed practices and real-time local data to serve households at-risk of or experiencing homelessness.
You can learn more about the County's Housing and Homelessness Plan and other initiatives in the Homelessness Initiatives section below.
You can learn more about the County's Housing and Homelessness Plan and other initiatives in the Homelessness Initiatives section below.
The County of Lambton Housing Continuum
The County of Lambton's Housing and Homelessness Plan, 2020-2024 |
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The County of Lambton's 10 Year Housing and Homelessness Plan, 2020, frames the planning and delivery of housing and homelessness supports within the community. This plan is guided by the vision of "Housing First, Housing Right" and three strategic directions: Homelessness Prevention, Housing Stability and Sustainability. The Housing & Homelessness Plan was approved by County Council on November 6, 2013. This is a high level strategic plan that addresses issues across the entire housing continuum (from homelessness shelters to market housing). The Housing and Homelessness Needs Report aims to seek out and highlight the community needs. The Best and Promising Practice Review is available to read. |
Guiding principles of Lambton County's Homelessness Prevention System: |
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Housing First Philosophy |
‘Housing First' is an approach to ending homelessness that focuses on quickly moving people experiencing homelessness into independent and permanent housing and then providing additional supports and services as needed. Housing First has been proven to:
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Principles of Housing First
- Immediate access to permanent housing with no housing readiness requirements - This involves working with individuals and families to locate and secure permanent housing as quickly as possible.
- Choice and self-determination – Individuals and families are provided choices in terms of housing options as well as the services they wish to access.
- Recovery oriented - Housing First practice is not simply focused on meeting basic client needs, but on supporting recovery.
- Individualized and client driven – A client-driven approach recognizes that individuals are unique, and so are their needs.
- Community integration – This involves promoting services and relationships that promote community belonging in the neighbourhood where individuals and families reside.
Learn more about the Principles of Housing First through the Homeless Hub website.
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162 Lochiel St, Sarnia, ON N7T 7W5
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