A pair of supportive housing projects may soon receive a financial boost courtesy of city funds, with council slated to consider contributing nearly $1.3 million to the collective efforts later this month.
“Combined, these projects will add 40 new permanent supportive and affordable housing units in Guelph,” states a staff report heading to council on Oct. 25. “Municipal funding shows local support to other levels of government funders and can be critical for those applications.”
Neither of the projects are entirely new – Grace Gardens, run by the Welcome In Drop-In Centre at the former Parkview Motel on Woolwich Street, and the Youth Supportive Housing Program offered by Wyndham House Incorporated at 51 Bellevue St.
If approved by council, the prior will receive $884,000 and the latter will receive $383,646 to go toward their respective efforts.
“Both of these projects scored very well in the evaluation process and represent excellent opportunities to create long term affordable housing options that will also support our community’s goal ending chronic homelessness,” states a letter from Wellington County officials, recommending the city funding.
Grace Gardens involves 32 bachelor apartments that house members of the city’s homeless population. Since council approved rezoning in April, the former motel has undergone a number of renovations in order to improve accessibility, provide a shared kitchen and space for 24/7 support services.
“The project is currently in the final stages of an application under the (Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation) Rapid Housing Initiative to fully fund the remainder of the project’s capital needs, which would leave the project debt-free,” the county letter notes.
The Wyndham House project proposes to see the creation of eight affordable, supportive housing units and is ready to begin construction.
“This funding will leave this project largely debt-free,” adds the letter.
This past June, city council asked the County of Wellington to handle evaluation of affordable and supportive housing projects within Guelph and make funding recommendations for council to consider.
At the time, city council asked the county to annually issue a request for proposals for funding allocations and provided a budget of $1.5 million for 2021. The funding recommendations add up to $1.27 million.
That process led to four applications, seeking more than $3.4 million combined. County officials believe the remaining two proposals, which aren’t as far along in the process, would be “great” for consideration in the future, should proponents choose to apply.
