More affordable, supportive housing projects planned in southwestern Ontario to combat homelessness crisis

Some communities in southwestern Ontario are ramping up to build more affordable housing, in an effort to combat the homelessness crisis.

It's a priority that is top of mind for the City of St. Thomas and Elgin County, who have seen the completion of two new affordable housing projects over the last few years, with more underway.

"We're also very actively looking at and building supportive housing as quickly as we can because we know that the true solution, the only solution to homelessness, is housing and housing with supports based on needs," said Danielle Neilson, manager of housing stability services for St. Thomas-Elgin Social Services.

Neilson said their number of unhoused people has come down steadily over the last few years, thanks to social supports and continued efforts to build more housing.

St. Thomas-Elginreduced itschronic homelessness by 30 per cent in seven months last year, she said.

The only solution to homelessnessis housing and housing with supports based on needs.- Danielle Neilson, managerof housing stability services, St. Thomas-Elgin Social Services

She said there were upwards of 10 people who may be living unsheltered at different points throughout theweek in the area, while fewer than130 people were listed on the county's by-name list waiting for more permanent housing. Those on the by-name list couldbe accessing shelter services or living in precarious or unstable housing.

Two housing projects by Christian charity Indwell have opened in St. Thomas over the past three years. A 15-unit supportive housing development called Railway City Lofts opened on Talbot Street in fall of 2021 for those with complex needs.

The Station, a 45-unit affordable housing building with 10 barrier-free units was completed in summer 2023 on Queen Street. Indwell is also planning to build a third property.

In September, Eastwood Housing Corporation broke ground on a vacant lot on Highview Drive, for a new five-storey, 82-unit complex known as Highview Hideaway, set for completion in 2026. Nearly 80 per cent of the units will be below market value.

Additionally, the YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin, in partnership with local contractors, is building 40 tiny homes as part of the Tiny Hope Project. Eight units were recently built in three days this month, with the remainder of the homes set to be built by 2026.

LISTEN: A tiny home blitz is underway in St. Thomas

Afternoon Drive6:51A tiny house building blitz is underway in St. Thomas

Project Tiny Hope is an affordable housing project that will see eight tiny homes built in three days in St. Thomas. Afternoon Drive spoke withLindsay Rice, the executive director of YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin, about the ambitious construction.

Nielsen said other communities have taken notice of what St. Thomas is doing with regards to affordable housing.

"We're showing up as a bit of a beacon of hope for other communities where a lot of the conversations are quite doomy and gloomy," she said.

Neilson said it's going to take a continued focus to ensure the community has enough supportive housing available for those in need now and for the future, to end or make homelessness only a temporary issue.

More affordable housing coming to Huron County

Affordable housing projects are also in the works in Huron County, as part of the municipality's homelessness prevention program.

The county currently has 139 households on its by-name list, an increase from 103 just six months ago, according to Erin Schooley, homelessness programs supervisor with the County of Huron.

Schooley said 88 per cent of those people are experiencing chronic homelessness, and the average length of time people are homeless in the county before finding housing is 23 months.

"When folks are chronically homeless, it's a much more challenging process to get folks housed," said Schooley.

"Their health declines, their mental health declines and in cases we see addictions increase, which makes all of those collide into what ultimately creates increasing barriers."

Two new triplexes in Goderich recently opened and have full occupancy, designed for affordable and transitional housing.

Two projects underway include a new 20-unit apartment building nearing completion on Sanders Street in Exeter. It should open by the end of the year and will have some units set aside for priority groups.

Additionally, a new $13 million dollar 40-unit build on Gibbons Street in Goderich is under construction and is set to open by winter 2026. It will be a mixed building with some units allocated to a supportive housing program.

"They definitely will reduce some of the pressures and help us to get some of the units that we're so desperately needing, as well as open up options for folks who are not even on our by-name list," said Schooley. "But then allows us some less immediate pressure on all of the units that exist in the county."