Tiny home project in St. Thomas, Ont. redoubles fundraising efforts after losing $8M grant

The YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin is preparing new fundraising efforts for its tiny affordable home project after failing to secure an $8 million grant from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

"It was extremely competitive. They had $1.5 billion for Canada and over 700 applicants. We know that so many communities are struggling with housing and that this is a nationwide crisis," said Lindsay Rice, the YWCA Executive Director.

The grant was to finish funding Project Tiny Hope, a partnership between the YWCA, Doug Tarry Homes and Sanctuary Homes that would see 40 affordable tiny homes built at 21 Kains Street.

The finished buildings will look like 350 to 800 square foot bungalows, with two stories for the two and three-bedroom units, she said.

"These small spaces are fully equipped with private bedrooms, full bathroom, washer and dryer, full kitchen appliances to really create a warm, welcoming, relaxed place to live and build independence and dignity for those in need," she said.

Rice said they're now working with the CMHC to take out a sizeable co-investment mortgage which should help cover nearly 90 per cent of their target budget.

She said they're also relying on further monetary donations and people generously giving their time, expertise and building materials to push the project over the finish line.

"I just got a phone call this week with a person saying 'hey, you know, I do framing for houses. I'd love to come frame a house at Tiny Hope at no cost'. Lots of people want to be involved."

Despite not getting the grant, they now have opportunities that wouldn't have been available otherwise, said Doug Tarry, President of Doug Tarry Homes and a home builder in St. Thomas.

"It means we can do a much more community based project. The response so far has been really heartening. I'm quite thrilled about it," said Tarry.

He said his original intent with Project Tiny Hope was to get other builders involved, something that would've been incredibly difficult if they'd received the grant because of the tight, 18 month timeframe required to complete the build.

"The goal is to be able to explain to everybody how to do these net zero homes and then use it as a great teaching opportunity for the building community but also an opportunity to come out and just have some real fun.

"I know it sounds weird. We didn't get the funding, so we should be really upset by that. But I'm not. I'm actually really looking forward to being able to do this with the other builders."

Of the 40 tiny homes under construction, Rice said over half are being reserved for especially vulnerable groups with 20 going to women and women-led families, five to youths between 16 and 24, and four going to Indigenous people.