FERGUS – Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington broke ground on Nov. 10 on Garafraxa Village, a 32-unit townhouse development on Garafraxa Street in Fergus.
The event marked the beginning of a new phase for the non-profit organization and potentially a new life for those who eventually move into the homes.
The groundbreaking attracted government officials, corporate sponsors and community members to the ReStore for speeches following the photo op at the build site.
The Grand 101 radio newscaster Austin Cardinell was invited to speak.
His family moved into the first Habitat for Humanity home in Fergus in 2002 “and the opportunity to have safe, sustainable housing was a blessing for our family,” he said.
Austin Cardinell, of the The Grand 101, grew up in Fergus’s first Habitat for Humanity home. Photo by Joanne Shuttleworth
Until then the family of five was living in a two-bedroom rental in town.
“It was never a handout, rather a hand up,” he said, noting his parents still paid a mortgage.
“But it gave stability to my parents and allowed us (he and his brothers) to become part of the community… This will be a great blessing for the families and the Centre Wellington community as a whole.”
Centre Wellington councillor Bronwynne Wilton acknowledged the housing crisis in the township and noted safe, affordable, equitable housing is an important social determinate of health.
“It takes a village to find a solution and partnerships are how to accomplish it,” she said. “This is an exciting milestone.”
Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield announced the Habitat project will receive $1.2 million from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) – part of a total $25 million contribution to support the construction of 500 units across the country.
“It takes ambition” to take on the housing crisis, Longfield said. “Certainly, we have it here.”
Associate housing minister Rob Flack said while the province has done well at improving the economy and creating jobs, there’s a dire need for housing across the province.
Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield announced $1.2 million from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation for the Fergus build. Photo by Joanne Shuttleworth
“We need new innovative solutions,” he said, adding it will take participation by the federal, provincial and municipal governments, the construction business, banks and non-profits to find those solutions.
Jason Ashdown, co-founder and chief sustainability officer at the Skyline Group of Companies, recently invested $1.5 million in Habitat’s community bonds program, the largest single investor and a contribution that helped Habitat through its final hurdle to construction.
“Our roots may be in rental housing but we have always sought creative and innovative ways to make a positive impact and Habitat for Humanity’s affordable townhouse project checks off all the boxes for us,” said Ashdown.
Ryan Deska, Habitat’s director of community engagement and development, said with a 70-unit construction project in the works in Guelph and the beginnings of a plan for 100 units at Orchard Park at the Ignatius Centre, “this is only the beginning of what we can do.”
To learn more about Habitat and the local builds, visit www.habitatgw.ca/build.
