Ontario Building More Affordable Housing in the City of Kingston and County of Lanark
Provincial investment will support people in need of safe and affordable homes
The Ontario government is providing over $2.4 million through the Social Services Relief Fund (SSRF) to help create 34 supportive housing units in Kingston, and six transitional housing units in Perth that will support individuals and families that have experienced domestic violence or abuse. The funding will also support two affordable housing units in Smiths Falls.
“Our government is making it easier for our partners to build homes of all types faster,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Building more community, affordable, and supportive housing will ensure that all Ontarians, especially our most vulnerable, can find a home that meets their needs.”
The funding will support three projects in:
- City of Kingston: this 34-unit, single-story supportive housing project will feature individual three-piece bathrooms for each unit. It will also include a small second-floor mezzanine for office space, a spacious common area, a commercial kitchen, and a dining room designed to support a communal living arrangement.
- Town of Perth: the province funded six units within a four-story transitional housing project. These units are designed using universal design principles, meaning they are accessible to people of all abilities, with features like wider doorways and step-free entryways. Plans are also in place to add covered, accessible scooter parking in the future.
- Town of Smith Falls: the province funded two units at within a four-storey affordable housing project at 44 Chambers Street, which includes 28 rent-geared-to-income units, consisting of one, two, and three-bedroom options, along with seven fully accessible units.
Today’s announcement is part of the province’s SSRF, which has provided over $1.2 billion of support to help municipal Service Managers and Indigenous Program Administrators create longer-term housing solutions and help vulnerable people in Ontario, including those who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
The Ontario government is also investing an additional $202 million each year in homelessness prevention programs, the Homelessness Prevention Program and Indigenous Supportive Housing Program – bringing Ontario’s total yearly investment to close to $700 million. This includes an allocation of $8.7 million through the Homelessness Prevention Program for the City of Kingston and $2.49 million for the County of Lanark in 2023-24.
Quick Facts
- The City of Kingston was allocated $10.7 million and the County of Lanark was allocated $7.3 million through all phases of the Social Services Relief Fund to deliver critical services such as shelters, food banks, and emergency services.
- Service Managers and Indigenous Program Administrators have the flexibility to allocate provincial funding to programs and services that address and prevent homelessness in their communities, such as rent supplements, homeless shelters, and supportive housing including capital projects.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love