In a flurry of announcements July 3rd, a number of municipalities in Ontario celebrated the approval of the construction of new affordable housing units.
From London to Ottawa, 23 "quick start" projects were approved by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The approved projects were those that are ready to start construction, and the number of units ranged from 2 new units to be built in Clarence-Rockland to 81 units in Hamilton. Altogether, the projects are worth $52.2 million, and will see the addition of 511 units of affordable housing available in Ontario in the near future. Construction is to begin on the projects by September.
The funds were part of a federal initiative to increase the amount of affodable housing in Canada, with a contribution from the Province of Ontario, which recently committed to fighting poverty in Ontario. The new units of affordable housing are seen as a key to helping fight poverty. Earlier this year, non-profit housing advocates released a study showing that there are nearly 130,000 households who need affordable housing in Ontario. The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is currently holding consultations across Ontario in its bid to develop a long-term strategy for affordable housing.