Construction begins for affordable housing units inside a Kitchener church
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and Indwell, a Christian charity, have joined forces to build 41 affordable units inside the Kitchener church.
A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Friday morning at the church on Queen Street North.
Indwell said it will offer supportive housing for people seeking health, wellness and belonging with health services available to residents on site.
“It's actually going to be a renovation of this existing structure. So converting the three-storey church hall behind us into 41 new apartments,” said Graham Cubitt, the director of projects and development at Indwell. “Demolition work has already started. And we're going to get started shortly with more putting things back and putting in the new apartments.”
The goal is provide critical support for some of the region's most marginalized citizens.
The church said homelessness and a lack of affordable housing is at a crisis level in the region – something they’ve witnessed firsthand.
“We had a family of three living in a subterranean air vent just behind the church. That was one defining moment that galvanized us as a community and as people of faith, we could no longer remain idle,” said Mark Ehlebracht, the pastor at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.
The region announced it would be contributing $8.9 million to help fund the project. The money comes from the region’s strategic investment fund and forms part of the region’s Building Better Futures initiative.
“The St. Peter’s project is an innovative and important increase in affordable housing for our community,” said Karen Redman, chair of the Region of Waterloo. “Thank you to our partners, including St. Peter’s Church, Indwell, the Ontario Government and the City of Kitchener for ensuring that we can deliver shovel-ready projects as part of Regional Council’s affordable housing plan.”
Construction is expected to wrap up before the fall of 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau repeats ceasefire call but doesn't condemn Israel sending troops into Lebanon
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pleaded for peace in the Middle East Saturday, as he decried a civilian death toll he blamed on Hamas, Hezbollah and Israel.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice are linked to an increase risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard found not guilty of sexual assault
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
Trump is returning to the site of Pennsylvania assassination attempt for a rally with Vance and Musk
Former U.S. president Donald Trump plans to return Saturday to the site where a gunman tried to assassinate him in July, setting aside what are now near-constant worries for his physical safety in order to fulfill a promise — 'really an obligation,' he said recently — to the people of Butler, Pa.
Police arrest Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
America votes: How the election could impact the Canada-U.S. border
While America's southern border remains a hot button issue on the campaign trail, the result of the U.S. election in November could also impact the northern frontier with Canada, which remains the longest undefended border in the world.
Fluoride in drinking water poses enough risk to merit new EPA action, judge says
A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water because high levels could pose a risk to the intellectual development of children.
Red Lobster is a mess. Here's why the new 35-year-old CEO wanted the job anyway
TikToks of customers stuffing their faces with a US$20 endless shrimp. More than 100 restaurant closures and thousands of layoffs. A revolving door of CEOs. Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Dubai's Emirates airline bans pagers, walkie-talkies after device attacks in Lebanon
Dubai's Emirates airline has banned pagers and walkie-talkies from its planes, following last month's attacks on such devices carried by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.