GUELPH – Ribbons have been cut, a funding glitch resolved and now the doors are open on a new 32-unit permanent supportive housing building in Guelph that Wellington County Warden Andy Lennox is calling a “beacon of hope.”
“We are profoundly grateful to our partners at the federal, provincial and local levels for their collaboration in bringing to fruition the 32 units of supportive housing at 10 Shelldale,” Lennox stated in a press release.
“This critical project represents a beacon of hope for individuals facing housing insecurity or homelessness in our community.”
Project partners and government representatives gathered at 10 Shelldale Crescent on June 26 to officially mark the end of construction and beginning of operations at the building.
And it was a crowded event as there are many partners in this project.
The Skyline Group of Companies donated the land. Kindle Communities will manage the building.
The Guelph Community Health Centre and Stonehenge Therapeutic Community will provide the supports available to individuals living in the building.
Wellington County, the City of Guelph, and provincial and federal governments provided funding for the capital costs, along with the Home for Good campaign launched by the Guelph-Wellington Poverty Elimination Task Force, the Guelph Community Foundation and the United Way Guelph-Wellington-Dufferin.
And the Ministry of Health has agreed to fund $9 million per year to keep the doors open.
The building has 32 independent units as well as common spaces, and residents will have access to health and mental health supports around the clock.
Permanent supportive housing is an evidence-based and cost-effective solution for people who are chronically homeless because of long-term disabilities, states the press release.
This building will house people in the community who have experienced chronic homelessness.
“At Kindle Communities, we are committed to ending homelessness,” said CEO Daria Allan-Ebron.
“This vision is shared by our community and with our incredible partners. With unwavering support from the private sector, all levels of government, and our community, we are more than just hopeful – we are determined.
“10 Shelldale is a testament to our collective effort, and we are thrilled to provide permanent supportive housing to those in need.”
Skyline co-founder Jason Ashdown added, “It is our hope that the 10 Shelldale Crescent project can serve as an example for other communities to emulate, showing that effective collaboration among government, business, and community organizations can play a key role in solving housing insecurity not just in Ontario, but across Canada.”
About a year ago – well into construction of the building – there was some question as to whether the building would get operating funding from the province.
But the Ministry of Health pulled through and will provide $9 million annually for operating expenses.
“Our investments will break down barriers to make it easier and faster for people in Guelph-Wellington to access supportive housing and community-based mental health and addiction support services close to home,” said health minister Sylvia Jones, who also attended the event.
Stonehenge CEO Kristin Kerr stated, “As organizations that work with under-served communities, the Guelph Community Health Centre and Stonehenge Therapeutic Community co-designed a new approach to put housing, health care and supports into a single program.”
She added, “We know that housing is health care, and we are grateful for the $9 million in operational funding from the Ministry of Health to help under-served community members gain stability, better health and wellness.”
To learn more about this project, visit https://www.kindlecommunities.com/supportive-housing.
To learn more about the additional projects within the Home for Good Campaign, visit https://homeforgoodgw.ca/projects-and-partners.
