Oxford skunked on affordable housing

The federal and provincial governments made a series of announcements today regarding the next phase of affordable housing funding in Ontario. This latest money comes after an extension of the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program (AHP) signed in 2005.

Oxford got skunked in the list of project announced by various MPPs and federal ministers earlier today. This is disappointing, considering this county has been on the bleeding edge of affordable-housing development since the original agreement was signed four years ago. The hard-working staff at the county, with council’s full support, turned an initial small grant into over 100 supported housing units developed by the private sector. The working poor (those making under about $30K/yr initially– the levels have since been bumped) have been the initial beneficiaries of this funding, with three projects in Woodstock, one in Ingersoll and two in Tillsonburg.

Two (Homestead Christian Care project received two rounds of funds) projects in Woodstock are already open and occupied as is the one in Ingersoll. The remaining projects, one in Woodstock, the other two in Tillsonburg, are on their way currently.

Oxford had submitted a list of construction-ready projects for these latest grants earlier this year after issuing another expression of interest to the development sector. The one firm project to come forward was 311 Dundas St., the former E.E. Paquette and Sons sock factory that will be redeveloped into apartments. Those apartments, I guess, will now become market-rent units instead of a mix of market-rent and affordable-housing. It’s a loss for the city and this county.

Let’s hope the county scores its due when it comes to the affordable housing’s home ownership program, which offers 20-year, interest-free loans to first-time home buyers to get them out of the rental market and into home ownership. The program has been extremely successful in this county, and any additional funds would be snapped up in seconds.

It’s also time for our local councils to consider getting into the game themselves– the developments in the last year have all happened due to this federal-provincial agreement. Our contribution has been through waiving development charges and building permit fees. We can and should do more.