Provincial investment will support people with accessibility needs in the community
Paris — The Ontario government is providing $340,000 to help create 15 affordable housing units in Paris in the County of Brant to support people with accessibility needs, as well as individuals and families who have experienced domestic violence, and people of Indigenous ancestry.
The new, four-storey apartment building, managed by the City of Brantford, has a total of 49 units and will offer accessible living with barrier-free apartments. It includes units specially designed for people experiencing sensory loss, such as low vision and hearing. The apartment building also includes affordable rentals for survivors of domestic violence, Indigenous people, and small families with mixed-income levels. Some households are also receiving rent assistance and subsidies.
The funding was announced by Matthew Rae, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford-Brant, on behalf of Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
“Our government remains committed to ensuring everyone, regardless of income, can find a place to call home,” said Parliamentary Assistant, Matthew Rae. “I’m pleased to see this investment through the Social Services Relief Fund being put to work to create safe, accessible homes in the community of Paris. This is one of many ways our government is working with our partners to better meet the needs of vulnerable Ontarians.”
The building will also feature common space and building amenities on the main floor, such as laundry, a common area and electric scooter parking. Residents will be close to amenities such as public transportation, grocery stores, pharmacies, schools, and employment opportunities.
The announcement is part of the province’s Social Services Relief Fund, which has provided over $1.2 billion of support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, to help municipal service managers and Indigenous program administrators create longer-term housing solutions and help vulnerable people in Ontario, including those who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
At the same time, the provincial and federal governments also announced a further $260,000 in joint support for an additional 15 units through the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative. The Ontario government is also investing an additional $202 million each year in homelessness prevention programs – the Homelessness Prevention Program and Indigenous Supportive Housing Program – bringing Ontario’s total yearly investment to close to $700 million. This includes an increase of $1.84 million through the Homelessness Prevention Program for the City of Brantford, which also provides housing services in Brant County, bringing the total to $7.02 million annually.