City of London, federal government announce funding for supportive housing project

On Wednesday, the City of London and the federal government announced $10 million in funding for the construction of 42 affordable supportive homes.

The announcement was made by MP for North London Centre Peter Fragiskatos and MP for London West Arielle Kayabaga on behalf of Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Gregor Robertson, alongside Mayor of London Josh Morgan.

According to a news release the supportive homes will be built at 392 South St., located within the former War Memorial Children’s Hospital. The area is being developed by Indwell as part of the redevelopment of the old Victoria Hospital lands.

The Hilda Stuarts Lofts project will provide access to safe and supportive spaces for individuals in London who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

“Every Canadian has a right to a safe, affordable home to call their own. That is why this government is collaborating with provincial and municipal governments to deliver good, quality homes to areas that need them most,” said Fragiskatos.

Funding for the project is as follows:

• $120,000 from CMHC’s Seed Funding Program
• $8.6 million from the Affordable Housing Fund
• $2.6 million from City of London

For London’s mayor, Wednesday’s announcement is an opportunity to breathe new life into one of the city’s neighbourhoods.

“We’ve got deeply affordable rents. We’ve got rent geared toward income units, and we have highly supportive housing all within one neighbourhood that was formerly hospital lands… [that weren’t] being used. And now we’re going to have hundreds and hundreds of people of all walks of life and all different means living together in a revitalized SoHo community,” said Morgan.

“A year from now, we’ll be opening these doors together, creating solutions to homelessness in our community,” added Indwell CEO Jeff Neven.