Federal government announces funding for senior housing in Ontario

Canada has allocated over $7 million for the development of senior housing in Ontario, as part of its commitment under the National Housing Strategy’s Affordable Housing Fund (AHF).

This funding is intended to support the construction of 58 new homes across two projects in Woolwich and Oxford, the federal government said in a release.

The first project is located at 33 Front Street in St. Jacobs, where Beyond Housing has built the Sprucelawn apartments. The building includes 28 units designed for senior citizens, particularly single senior women. It makes use of a full universal design, with four of the units exceeding accessibility standards.

Sprucelawn began welcoming residents in November, the government said. It has benefitted from a combined funding effort, including over $4.8 million from the AHF, more than $3.1 million from the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, $192,009 from the Township of Woolwich, and over $2.7 million contributed by Beyond Housing.

The second project is located at 99 Mill Street in Plattsville. The building has 30 accessible and energy-efficient homes for seniors. It also has three units specifically dedicated to women escaping domestic violence, thanks to a collaboration with Domestic Abused Services Oxford (DASO).

Completed in 2022, the project received financial backing of over $2 million from the federal government through the AHF, as well as $1.5 million from Oxford County, land from the Corporation of the Township of Blandford Blenheim, and $500,000 from DKP Realty Holdings Ltd.

Tim Louis, Member of Parliament for Kitchener—Conestoga, issued a statement on behalf of Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities, highlighting the government’s commitment to ensuring seniors have access to safe and affordable housing within their communities.

“By supporting projects like these, our government is helping seniors keep a strong and active presence in the communities they call home,” said Louis.

Last week, the federal government announced that it had allocated nearly $16 million to transform a former Service Canada office into living spaces dedicated for Indigenous Peoples.

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