More affordable, supportive housing projects planned in southwestern Ontario to combat homelessness crisis
CBC
Some communities in southwestern Ontario are ramping up to build more affordable housing, in an effort to combat the homelessness crisis.
It's a priority that is top of mind for the City of St. Thomas and Elgin County, who have seen the completion of two new affordable housing projects over the last few years, with more underway.
"We're also very actively looking at and building supportive housing as quickly as we can because we know that the true solution, the only solution to homelessness, is housing and housing with supports based on needs," said Danielle Neilson, manager of housing stability services for St. Thomas-Elgin Social Services.
Neilson said their number of unhoused people has come down steadily over the last few years, thanks to social supports and continued efforts to build more housing.
St. Thomas-Elgin reduced its chronic homelessness by 30 per cent in seven months last year, she said.
She said there were upwards of 10 people who may be living unsheltered at different points throughout the week in the area, while fewer than 130 people were listed on the county's by-name list waiting for more permanent housing. Those on the by-name list could be accessing shelter services or living in precarious or unstable housing.
Two housing projects by Christian charity Indwell have opened in St. Thomas over the past three years. A 15-unit supportive housing development called Railway City Lofts opened on Talbot Street in fall of 2021 for those with complex needs.
The Station, a 45-unit affordable housing building with 10 barrier-free units was completed in summer 2023 on Queen Street. Indwell is also planning to build a third property.
In September, Eastwood Housing Corporation broke ground on a vacant lot on Highview Drive, for a new five-storey, 82-unit complex known as Highview Hideaway, set for completion in 2026. Nearly 80 per cent of the units will be below market value.
Additionally, the YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin, in partnership with local contractors, is building 40 tiny homes as part of the Tiny Hope Project. Eight units were recently built in three days this month, with the remainder of the homes set to be built by 2026.
LISTEN: A tiny home blitz is underway in St. Thomas
Nielsen said other communities have taken notice of what St. Thomas is doing with regards to affordable housing.
"We're showing up as a bit of a beacon of hope for other communities where a lot of the conversations are quite doomy and gloomy," she said.
Neilson said it's going to take a continued focus to ensure the community has enough supportive housing available for those in need now and for the future, to end or make homelessness only a temporary issue.
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