Ground broken for Kitchener transitional housing units on Victoria Street
Ground has been broken at 97 Victoria Street in Kitchener for the development of 44 new transitional housing units with expanded community supports.
“This is going to be a vibrant community. It's not only about making home for people , but it's providing the meals, and kinds of things people need. Like showers and laundry. That makes a community. That helps people out when they're down,” Joe Mancini, director of The Working Centre said.
The site, located directly across the street from a large encampment at Victoria and Weber streets is currently home to St. John’s Kitchen. The soup kitchen provides access to meals, laundry, showers, health services and harm reduction supplies for people in need.
Construction for the project is set to start on Sept. 15.
According to the full project overview, tenancy is targeted for fall or winter of 2024.
Its $21.8 million dollar price tag is covered by grants, with $9.8 million coming as part of the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) city stream.
Another $6.3 million comes from private commitments, and $3 million from private fundraising.
The rest is from secured grants.
“The development of 97 Victoria is an example of what is possible when the community, local partners, the private sector and different levels of government work together with a single vision,” Region of Waterloo Chair Karen Redman said. “The Region of Waterloo is grateful to our federal partners for recognizing the urgency of developing affordable and supportive housing in Waterloo Region.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.