In an effort to try and ease the affordable housing shortage situation locally, Chatham-Kent council is supporting a unique subdivision project featuring smaller homes in Chatham. 
The Opportunity Villages Community Land Trust project was formed to address the shortage of affordable home ownership options in Chatham-Kent, which is also making it difficult for local businesses to attract and retain entry level employees.
The 32-unit project will feature smaller homes to be located in Chatham on Taylor Avenue. It received a series of grants from the municipality to help with costs, as well as waiving of permit and other fees, from Chatham-Kent.
Chatham-Kent councillor Karen Kirkwood-Whyte said she is a big proponent of the project because she said there is a huge need for affordable housing in Chatham-Kent.
The homes will be one or two-bedroom units, ranging from 600 to 955 square feet, and will be both single -family homes and multi-dwelling units.
While community land trust projects are common, especially in the United Kingdom, this is the first community land trust project for Chatham-Kent.
The land trust will own the land, while the buildings will be owned by the home-owners.
Once the Community Land Trust project is complete in Chatham, there will be an effort to expand the project to other communities in Chatham-Kent. Kirkwood-Whyte said they’re already looking at Wallaceburg and Wheatley has having available land for similar projects.
Construction on the Chatham project is slated to start as early as this spring.
