Twelve new supportive homes for people experiencing homelessness have been built in Hamilton with combined provincial and federal funding of over $3 million.
The conversion of the current Wesley Building, located at 195 Ferguson Avenue North, will provide permanent supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness on Hamilton’s By-Name Priority List. New supportive homes are being delivered through a partnership between Wesley Community Homes and the Good Shepherd. The project includes eleven one-bedroom units and one two-bedroom unit created through the conversion of office space within the existing Wesley building.
Funding for this project:
- $2.25 million from the federal government through the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) Cities Stream under the National Housing Strategy (NHS);
- $750,000 from the provincial and the federal governments through the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI), an initiative of the Canada–Ontario Bilateral Agreement under the NHS;
- $259,121 from the City of Hamilton.
The Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) provides capital contributions to facilitate the rapid construction of new housing and/or acquisition of existing buildings for the purpose of rehabilitation or conversion to permanent affordable, supportive, or transitional housing. The objective is to quickly create new permanent affordable housing units that support people who are vulnerable and prioritized under the National Housing Strategy.
The Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) is a program under the CMHC-Ontario Bilateral Agreement. This 10-year agreement provides more than $5.78 billion to protect, renew and expand community housing; support Ontario’s priorities related to housing repair, construction and affordability; and deliver direct affordability support to Ontarians who need housing.