A financial boost to increase access to affordable housing in Leamington.
The federal and provincial governments announced nearly $3 million in funding on Friday through the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI).
The money will be used to build 18 new affordable housing units as part of the Tiny Home Community Initiative at the existing The Bridge Youth Resource Centre site at 310 Sherk Street.
Krista Rempel, executive director of The Bridge Youth Resource Centre, says what makes this project meaningful is that these homes are being built as part of a community.
“We know that housing is about much more than having a roof over your head,” she says. “Housing creates stability, stability creates opportunity, and opportunity allows people to move forward. For someone who has experienced homelessness, housing can be the first step toward rebuilding their life.”
The overall goal of the initiative is to build 50 mixed-income units to provide affordable housing for youth, adults, seniors, low-income workers, and individuals facing addiction challenges, offering critical access to supports and community services managed by the Centre.
Rempel says there is a need for this program.
“When we put out an opportunity for applications to be received, we’re already above and beyond our capacity when it comes to the program units. The need is great; the need is there. I think the impact of these is widely felt,” she says.
Each unit provides around 500 square feet of space with one bedroom, a kitchen, a small common area, and a full washroom.
Trevor Jones, member of the provincial parliament for Chatham-Kent-Leamington, says this will have an immediate impact on the community.
“This is an example of collaboration with three levels of government, and brilliant minds, both from the faith-based community and the community at large, come together to create a template for something that can be used all around Ontario or anywhere else,” he says.
Construction is already underway, and the 18 new affordable rental units are not expected to be completed until the end of this year.
The organization typically provides services to 300 youth, between the ages of 14 and 24, through their programs each year.
The announcement was made by Matthew Rae, Parliamentary Assistant to the Honourable Rob Flack, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; alongside Trevor Jones, Member of Provincial Parliament for Chatham-Kent-Leamington; Hilda MacDonald, Mayor of the Municipality of Leamington and Warden of the County of Essex; Dana Paladino, Commissioner of Human and Health Services of the City of Windsor; and Krista Rempel, Executive Director of The Bridge Youth Resource Centre.