Governments invest $6M in affordable housing in Coburg
Affordable housing in Cobourg received a much-needed shot in the arm earlier this month.
On July 23, the federal and provincial governments announced funding of more than $5.7 million to build 28 community housing units in the southern Ontario community. The funding will be delivered through the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI).
Steve Clark, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Spadina-Fort York MP Adam Vaughan made the announcement on the proposed site of the Elgin Park redevelopment in the city.
"Supporting the Elgin Park redevelopment project is one way our government is working to make our community housing system more efficient and sustainable, and to ensure that people can access the affordable housing and supports they need today, and in the years to come,” said Clark.
As part of its Community Housing Renewal Strategy, the province is investing nearly $1 billion in 2020–21, which will help sustain, repair and grow community housing. The province has also committed $350 million in funding to help stop the spread of COVID-19 among vulnerable populations—including people who have difficulty paying rent.
The Elgin Park site currently hosts nine semi-detached buildings, with 18 community housing units. The new complex will have four two-storey buildings with a total of 40 units.
The redevelopment will include a mix of multi-bedroom and one-bedroom units. At least 20 percent of the units will be accessible, and all other ground floor units will be designed to be easily retrofitted into fully accessible units if needed in the future.
The redevelopment will also include a shared green space with a playground and recreational area for families, plus a common building with a large programming room, universal washroom, kitchenette and office space for private meetings between tenants and staff and community agencies.
"The Elgin Park redevelopment project is an important part of the solution to help build more homes that are truly affordable in Northumberland,” said David Piccini, MPP for Northumberland—Peterborough South. “I am thrilled to celebrate this new community housing complex that will double the number of homes available for families on Elgin Street and increase the diversity of the overall housing supply in our community."
The COCHI program will fund 28 of the new units, all of which will be affordable, rent-geared-to-income housing.