An empty school in Chatham will help ease Chatham-Kent’s housing crunch.

The St Clair Catholic District School Board has sold the former St Agnes School in Chatham to Indwell Community Homes for $635,000. Indwell is working with various community groups to create more affordable housing in Chatham-Kent.

Under provincial regulations, boards have to offer any surplus property to public sector agencies, but officials say there were no takers.

The Croydon Street building was placed on the open market a month ago and the board received 10 offers.

The English Catholic board still has two more surplus properties that will be sold on the open market.  Offering dates are yet to be determined for the now vacant former St. Vincent Catholic School, at 9399 McNaughton Line, Chatham; and Monsignor Uyen Catholic School, located at 255 Lark Street, Chatham, which will close at the end of June 2021.