Stage set for start of unique affordable housing development

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A group of developers and city hall are ready to build a first-of-its-kind housing facility for the most vulnerable homeless Londoners.

Now they need city council’s release of about $7.7 million from the federal government and private donors. With that in hand, the redevelopment of a former long-term care home at 46 Elmwood Place near Old South into a 50-unit highly supported housing centre can begin, officials said Wednesday.

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“All of us here are city builders. And we know that all types of housing are needed for a city to be truly prosperous,” Tricar Group’s Adam Carapella said at a news conference setting the stage for the request for council.

Tricar, Auburn Group, Drewlo Holdings, and Sifton Properties have created Developing for Change to build this housing facility, and perhaps more.

Construction could begin in a few months, with people moving in by mid-2025, Carapella said.

“We can only solve this crisis by all working together. It’s our hope that the success of this project will serve as a catalyst and sort of a template for other projects going forward, both by our group and by others,” Carapella said.

The project is the first under London’s new homelessness and health system that brings a group of developers together with city support and federal and private donor funding.

The new system, called the whole of community response, aims to build up to 600 highly supported housing units and 15 full service hubs/shelters. Those housing units would provide people access to health care and 24/7 social service support.

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Developed by more than 200 people from dozens organizations, the new system aims to help the highest acuity homeless Londoners – those with the most complex mental health, physical health and social challenges.

At the series of summit meetings that created the new system were several London developers, who promised at the time to help find places to build and manage construction.

“At those summits, one of the major takeaways was that permanent, highly supportive housing is a key item that is going to help combat the homelessness crisis that we have here in London,” Carapella said. “We were inspired to act.”

At their June 18 debate, city politicians will be asked to endorse a one-time capital contribution of $2.04 million from the federal government’s $74 million housing acceleration fund for London.

Another $4 million in capital costs and $1.7 million in operating costs would come from the community-led Health and Homelessness Fund for Change, which holds $25 million from a private donor and $4.1 million from the rest of the community.

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The donor has pledged to match a $5 million contribution from the community.

At that meeting, politicians will also be asked to support an annual housing supplement budget of $500,000 and approve Indwell Community Homes as the operator of the project. Indwell operates several other affordable housing units in London.

“When we talk about our whole of community response, this project is a prime example on how different partners can come together to create meaningful change for those who need it in our city,” Mayor Josh Morgan said.

London was the first city in Canada to receive money from the federal government’s $4-billion housing accelerator fund.

Cities have change some policies, especially zoning rules to allow more intensive housing development, to get accelerator funding, Peter Fragiskatos, MP for London North Centre, said.

“We need to think more broadly about zoning and be more creative and deal with those attitudes around ‘Not in my backyard.’ We have to be ‘Yes, in my backyard,’” he said.

Zoning for this project is already in place.

rrichmond@postmedia.com

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WHAT THEY SAID

“We heard from the community that to effectively respond to the health and homelessness crisis, we need a range of housing options – in particular, highly supportive housing with 24/7 on-site care.” – Jamie Crich, Auburn Group

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“We’re proud to be contributing a solution that will strengthen our community, by using our collective experience to meet the critical need for highly supportive housing in our city. With the right kind of housing, we can truly make a difference.” – Richard Sifton, Sifton Properties Limited

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“The challenges facing our city will take all of us working together in ways we haven’t before. The Developing for Change came about because we all care deeply about our community and knew that together we could have a meaningful impact.” – Allan Drewlo, Drewlo Holdings Inc.

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“Projects like this highlight the importance of combining efforts with municipalities with joint expertise, local needs and opportunities so that we can effectively build homes faster and provide housing that is needed for our community.” – London West MP Arielle Kayabaga

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