Ottawa pledges $96M to create affordable housing in southern Ontario
The federal government has promised more than $96 million to build and repair affordable housing units in southern Ontario, with just under $25 million earmarked for projects in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Wellington County.
Jenna Sudds, the minister of families, children and social development, made the announcement Thursday morning at 82 Wilson Avenue in Kitchener. That building project will get $2.4 million to construct 48 homes for low-income residents on the Waterloo Region’s social housing waitlist.
Other cities receiving funding are Guelph, Brantford, Norfolk County, Woodstock, Stratford, Hanover, Orangeville and Owen Sound.
In all, the government aims to create 7,685 affordable housing units.
“We have committed to 500 homes,” said Waterloo Regional Councillor Colleen James. “This helps with this, so this is huge for us. It’s huge for our master plan and the future, and making sure people in this area have a place to call home.”
The hope is that it will help get people into homes faster.
“There will be builders across the country that are going to be able to be pre-approved, which will also allow them to have a line of sight for future development, which is important in terms of making investment in equipment, hiring additional staff and so on,” explained Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.
Some argue the money is only a fraction of what’s needed to address the growing affordability crisis.
“I’m glad that at least a quarter of the dollars announced today are going to be for affordable units in Waterloo Region, but it’s obviously not nearly enough,” said Mike Morrice, the Green Party MP for Kitchener Centre. “With this funding we’re going to see 314 new units built at a time when we have 8,000 people in Waterloo Region who are on the waitlist for affordable housing.”
The minister also addressed the problem of renovictions.
“Funding is going towards that so that there is additional resources available to renters in exactly the situation that you’ve expressed, whether it’s a renovation or any eviction of any sort,” she said. “It’s important that renters have the ability to get the support that they need because it is difficult to navigate.”
Sudds didn’t explain how the funding would be used to help renters.
“It’s creating a level of uncertainty that, quite frankly, isn’t fair to people who have been living in some of these residences for 20, 30 years and more,” Vrbanovic said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7031520.1725924339!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh convenes caucus in Montreal to plot post-deal path forward
Just days after demolishing his deal with Justin Trudeau's Liberals, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is holding a three-day strategy session with his MPs in Montreal.
SpaceX launches billionaire to conduct the first private spacewalk
A daredevil billionaire rocketed back into orbit Tuesday, aiming to perform the first private spacewalk and venture farther than anyone since NASA's Apollo moonshots.
Forgotten Cheetos snack bag can have 'world-changing' impact, U.S. national park says
A U.S. national park is cautioning tourists about how a small bag of Cheetos could have an enormous impact.
Hoggard to seek bail today pending attempt to appeal sexual assault conviction
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard is expected to seek bail at a court hearing today, weeks after beginning to serve his sentence for a sexual assault conviction.
Man accused of setting on fire a Ugandan Olympic athlete dies of burns
A man accused of dousing gasoline on an Ugandan Olympic athlete, causing her death days later, has succumbed to burns sustained in the attack, according to the Kenyan hospital where he was treated.
'Blown away by your kindness': Meredith Gaudreau thanks Calgary in heartfelt eulogy
Meredith Gaudreau, Johnny Gaudreau’s widow, gave a sincere thank you to Calgary for the outpouring of support for her and the Gaudreau family.
Canadian fast food chains create value menus to win back customers
Canada’s restaurant industry is in a slump as money conscious consumers are eating out less and spending less when they do go out.
An Israeli strike on a Gaza humanitarian zone tent camp kills at least 19 people, Palestinians say
An Israeli strike on a crowded tent camp housing Palestinians displaced by the war in Gaza killed at least 19 people and wounded 60 early on Tuesday, Palestinian officials said. Israel said it targeted senior Hamas militants with precise munitions.
Ryan Seacrest debuts as new host of 'Wheel of Fortune'
For the first time in almost 8,000 episodes, 'Wheel of Fortune' did not open with a hello from longtime host Pat Sajak.