Group aims to build affordable housing for veterans in Sudbury

Veteran and First Responder Housing is seeking federal funding for a 60-unit complex in Sudbury to prioritize retired or released front-line workers.

A group called Veteran and First Responder Housing is working to help veterans who are concerned about or facing homelessness in the city.

Group president Mike Jensen said many veterans on fixed incomes are struggling with the surge in the cost of living.

“My pension was a good pension for 2008,” Jensen said.

“Fast forward now to today, 2026, and everything that we’ve gone through in the cost of living.”

The project began just more than a year ago after a typical veterans Sunday meeting highlighted some of the challenges veterans have been facing, especially housing.

That’s when, Jensen said, they set a goal of building 60 affordable housing units near a bus route in the South End of Sudbury.

“The affordable side for a two-bedroom,” he said.

“What we’re thinking about is somewhere between $1,500 and $1,700 a month and that’s inclusive of all utilities and, hopefully, parking.”

Needs of veterans

The project also includes services tailored to the needs of veterans.

“So we’ll bring in the psychologists, psychiatrist, put up podiatrist -- whatever the folks need in the building, we want to bring them,” Jensen said.

“We want to bring these professional services to the building.”

The project is still in the planning process, he added. Surveys and meetings have helped determine resources needed for the proposed build, like mental health supports for all generations of the seven groups of first responders who would be eligible.

“The three obvious ones are paramedics, firefighters and police, as well as veterans, but 911 operators, nurses and corrections (officers), as well,” Jensen said.

“Not to say that others who aren’t in a frontline role under the same sort of adverse conditions … We’re open to applications from any of these groups – families, as well as civilian members. It’s not an age restriction.”

He added that students would also be welcome.

“The requirement is graduated basic training for these folks, they’re eligible to live in our building,” Jensen said.

‘An awesome leg up’

“So you imagine getting a one-bedroom or a studio apartment somewhere in the magnitude of $1,200 a month, with everything included, a brand new space, everything included for a student going to university. This is an awesome leg up for a student to be able to be successful.”

While he says local fundraising has been helpful, the project cost is estimated at $25 million. That’s why the group is hoping to gain federal funding and get shovels in the ground this fall.

“These folks -- they served, we served -- on the frontline, whether it was here in Canada or abroad,” Jensen said.

“What we’re trying to do is say, we’d like to pay back, pay it forward, let’s find some affordable living so that you can live on your own in a secure space, surrounded by other folks that have been in uniform.”

In a statement to CTV News, Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe said there is money available for these types of projects.

“As this project moves through the planning phases, I will work alongside the group to advocate for the funding needed to get this built,” the statement said.

Jensen said there are around 4,000 veterans in Canada who are living close to homelessness or are homeless, so he hopes that if they can succeed in Sudbury, it will serve as an inspiration to others and be replicated across the country.

“We feel it’s our duty to help our own and so that’s what we’re trying to do.”