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The federal government has announced a three-year, $41-million plan to develop 13 affordable housing projects in Ottawa and across Eastern Ontario.
Minister of families, children and social development Jenna Sudds announced the initiative Thursday during a news conference at 464 Metcalfe St., operated by the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC).
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Eighty-six new homes will be built and 3,218 existing homes will be repaired in the region through the Affordable Housing Fund, a program under the government’s National Housing Strategy.
“It’s clear that communities across the country, including here in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario, need more affordable housing and the federal government is here to help,” Sudds said.
Since 2017, Sudds said, the affordable housing fund has been providing low-interest loans and forgivable loans to build new affordable housing in Canadian communities. She said the projects it funded were “rooted in communities” and supported by many partners, like provincial and municipal governments and non-profit and private-sector organizations.
Of the $41 million, $13,808,322 will go to projects in Ottawa.
CCOC, which aims to create, maintain and promote affordable housing for low- and moderate-income people, will receive $12 million to repair 1,200 units. It is funding another $18 million via its “own sources.”
Sarah Button, executive director of the CCOC, said the affordable housing fund had been “instrumental” in creating and maintaining homes since 2017.
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She said Thursday’s announcement meant that units in the organization’s portfolio could receive repairs and energy-efficiency upgrades. Button said CCOC was looking at building automation systems to ensure that buildings performed well, adding solar panels and solar walls and replacing windows.
“These are things that will both improve the lifespan of the building,” Button said, adding that more than two-thirds of units owned and operated by CCOC would be upgraded. “They’re also things that will improve the quality of life for the folks who live in these buildings.”
CCOC’s 54 properties are mostly downtown, with other properties in Overbrook. Button couldn’t share which properties will be repaired, but noted they would be the “larger” properties. The work is expected to be done by the end of 2024.
Three other Ottawa projects will also receive funding: Dunbar Apartment, $1,163,322 for 31 units; Home for the Deafblind, $395,000 for six units; and Christ Church Bells Corners Rectory Redevelopment project, $250,000 in top-up funding.
Nine other projects span from Kawartha Lakes to Cornwall:
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- Corporation of the City of Cornwall Repair Portfolio ($2,030,334, 400 units)
- County of Lanark Repair Portfolio ($1,490,000, 149 units)
- Vankleek Senior Citizens Manor Expansion ($8,678,450, 30 units)
- Marmora District Housing Commission Elevator Upgrade ($75,979, 24 units)
- Thurlow Court in Belleville ($46,340, 21 units)
- County of Renfrew Repair Portfolio ($5,000,000, 500 units)
- Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton Housing Corporation Repair Portfolio ($5,000,000, 500 units)
- The Corporation of the County of Hastings Repair Portfolio ($4,240,000, 424 units)
- A Place Called Home in Kawartha Lakes ($1,348,629, 19 units.)
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