A new federal funding initiative could be a boon for several affordable and supportive housing projects in Guelph, including plans to convert the Parkview Motel into permanent supportive housing, says MP Lloyd Longfield.
“Now there’s a lot of work ahead but we’ve got projects that you could recognize right out of the gate that could be impacted by this,” he said.
Dubbed the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI), the federal government announced a funding program on Monday that will see $1 billion awarded to projects throughout the country that convert existing buildings into affordable housing or construct modular housing.
Delivered through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the funds are expected to enable the “rapid creation” of up to 3,000 new affordable housing units nationwide.
“Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home,” said Ahmed Hussen, minister of families, children and social development, as well as the minister responsible for CMHC, in a news release. “With the Rapid Housing Initiative, our government is moving quickly to provide more affordable housing to keep our vulnerable populations safe, to fight the (COVID-19) virus over the long-term, and to support Canada’s economic recovery.”
Among the key aspects of the plan, Longfield noted, is that qualifying projects can receive up to 100 per cent funding without a requirement of participation from the provincial government.
“We don’t have to worry about the province holding things up. That has been an issue,” he said. “A lot of the programs we’ve announced require the province to be a partner at the table and this is just pushing past that.”
The Parkview Motel project, proposed by the Welcome In Drop In Centre, would see the Woolwich street motel converted into 36 permanent supportive housing units. The drop-in centre has a signed letter of intent to purchase the property from the current owners for $3.8 million.A $1.14 deposit is needed to complete the purchase, of which $500,000 has been requested from the City of Guelph.
Should this project come to fruition, the facility would include a large, shared kitchen and common spaces for residents, as well as outdoor landscaped spaces, and 24/7 staffing.
Gail Hoekstra, the Drop In Centre's executive director, recently said residents would be selected from a list of 150 longtime homeless individuals from the community.
Because the Parkview Motel initiative previously received CMHC “seed money” to develop the plan and enlist architectural services, Longfield believes its well suited for RHI funding.
“We’ve opened up the financial opportunities. They still have to go through the city in terms of zoning and details on the projects,” he said, referencing a required zone change on the property from commercial to residents.
The Guelph MP said his office has been working with the proponents of 12 projects within Guelph that may qualify for RHI funding.
“And winter’s coming, so that’s not a bad thing.”
