The Regional Municipality of Durham yesterday – in honour of National Housing Day – committed to helping initiate the development of 1,000 new affordable rental housing units, as detailed in the Master Housing Strategy.
In March 2022, Regional Council endorsed the new At Home Incentive Program (AHIP), which provides capital grants and planning services to develop affordable housing. The AHIP led to a $7.45 million commitment to support two projects; $5.5 million for Riverbank Homes Limited to build 75 units in Oshawa, and $1.95 million for Kindred Works to build 13 units in Pickering, said a region statement.
It said the second call for applications to the AHIP is open until December 20, with $5.5 million in funding available.
The statement pointed out that the region supports more than 6,000 existing affordable community housing units and has 256 new units in development. “We are currently in the early stages of redeveloping some Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation properties, which will increase the number of units and provide higher quality affordable housing.”
For the Ritson School Project in Oshawa, the region said it is exploring opportunities to include mixed-use and sustainably built housing, while preserving the heritage designated elements of the building for uses that will include health and social programs to serve the surrounding community.
Homelessness
To help address homelessness, a vital resource is transitional supportive housing, which provides accommodation and supports for developing life skills so that residents can successfully transition into permanent housing.
The new Beaverton Transitional Supportive Housing residence will soon open to provide much-needed housing and access to wraparound services to its residents. It will also include a community service hub that will be open to all north Durham residents.
“Durham Region is a beautiful place to live, with a mix of small towns and big cities that offer lively community centres, schools, trails, museums, concert venues, restaurants, sporting events and more. We know why so many people want to call Durham Region their home, which is why the Region is working with private and public sector partners to help create more housing opportunities,” said John Henry, Regional Chair and CEO.
Quick Facts
- The Master Housing Strategy emphasizes a holistic and systems-level approach to the planning of community, supportive and transitional housing, as well as homelessness supports and prevention. The Strategy supports At Home in Durham, the Durham Region Housing Plan for 2014 to 2024.
- The region is dedicated to affordable housing across municipalities and created a new position this year, Director of Affordable Housing Development and Renewal, to support these efforts.
- The AHIP supports the development of affordable housing in Durham Region. To be eligible, projects must provide a minimum of five affordable housing units and include one of the following: new construction; conversion of non-residential buildings to purpose-built rental housing; addition of new affordable buildings/units to existing sites/buildings; community housing redevelopment that increases the supply of affordable housing units. For more information, visit durham.ca/Ahip.
- In 2022, Durham Regional Council passed a resolution identifying Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation properties to be considered for revitalization.
- The vision for the Ritson School Project will see the renovation and reuse of the former elementary school building and will offer health and social programs for the surrounding community.
- Beaverton Supportive Transitional Housing residence is a 47-unit modular building where priority access will be given to unsheltered residents and those at risk of homelessness from the townships of Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge—who require this form of accommodation and access to wraparound services.