The federal and provincial governments announced a combined investment of nearly $10 million for the construction of affordable housing units in Owen Sound on January 17.

Construction of the third of three phases at the Odawa Heights project is scheduled to begin this spring. That phase of work will consist of 54 new homes, 43 of which will be affordable housing, and should be complete by November.

The first two phases of the project, which are already complete, included include 28 affordable housing units in a 36-unit development. Residents moved into their new homes in 2018 and 2019.

"Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home and Grey County is excited to see more affordable homes coming to Owen Sound with the province's commitment to Odawa Heights,” said Grey County Warden Paul McQueen. “The Owen Sound Housing Company has done a tremendous job supporting our community with this incredibly valuable project."

The governments have invested $9.6 million in construction of all three phases through the Canada-Ontario Investment in Affordable Housing agreement, the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative and the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative. 

The rental vacancy rate for Owen Sound in 2018 was 1.7 percent, according to CMHC data. 

"I'm pleased this funding will help Odawa Heights provide quality, innovative and affordable homes in Owen Sound to serve the people of our area," said Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker. “We are pleased to partner with the federal government to deliver on provincial priorities – including projects that expand housing options for people in Ontario.”

Affordable housing is a focus of the provincial and federal governments. The province has committed to spending more than $1 billion in 2019–20 to sustain, repair and grow community housing in Ontario.

The federal government, meanwhile, is rolling out its National Housing Strategy—a 10-year, $55-billion plan that will create 125,000 new housing units, repair and renew more than 300,000 housing units and reduce chronic homelessness by 50 percent.