Chatham-Kent is getting a multi-million-dollar funding boost to support an affordable housing project in Wallaceburg.
The federal and provincial governments are investing $6.8 million in combined funding through the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative and the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative to build 50 new affordable housing units at 199 Westcourt Boulevard.
With communities across Ontario facing housing shortages, Matthew Rae, Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, said it’s important that all levels of government work together to tackle the issue.
“I know we have affordability challenges in rural Ontario and challenges with [the] unhoused in rural communities. So our government will be there taking action with our municipal partners,” said Rae.
The project, which was approved by CK Council in May, will transform a vacant, municipally-owned site into a five-storey, 72-unit mixed-income housing development, comprised of 50 affordable units and 22 market-rate units.
The units are expected to support residents of all ages by offering a range of sizes, with 20 per cent of the units being accessible. The development will also include fully accessible common areas and will exceed energy-efficiency standards.
The remaining costs associated with the development will be paid for by Chatham-Kent through a $13 million, 30-year municipal debenture.
CK Mayor Darrin Canniff said projects like this are essential for the municipality.
“This is only the beginning. Housing is the biggest issue we face in Chatham-Kent,” he said. “This lays the solid groundwork with three levels of government working together.”
Construction on Westcourt Boulevard is expected to take roughly two years.
According to the municipality, there are over 1,455 households in Chatham-Kent on the centralized waiting list for affordable housing, with 23 per cent seeking housing in Wallaceburg.
