County Council will review a proposal for expanding affordable housing in Colborne at its August 14 meeting.
The proposal, put forth by the Northumberland County Housing Corporation (NCHC), seeks to increase the housing capacity at 123 King Street East. The NCHC, in partnership with Northumberland County, is looking to replace the existing 22 units with up to 60 new ones, significantly expanding the availability of affordable and attainable housing in the area.
NCHC Chair Victor Fiume stated, “The approval of funds for preliminary planning for the King Street redevelopment will be a critical milestone in our ongoing efforts to increase the stock of affordable housing in Northumberland. This effort will not only enable us to replace aging units for the benefit of current tenants but also expand the number of affordable rental units available, meeting broader community needs.”
The Social Services Committee has recommended releasing funds to support pre-construction activities, including preparing a building design and budget. The redevelopment aims to offer a mix of rent-geared-to-income and market rent housing, accommodating individuals with low to moderate incomes. A phased construction approach will ensure current tenants can remain in their units until the new accommodations are ready.
With Northumberland facing one of Ontario’s lowest rental vacancy rates at just one per cent, the expansion has the goal of addressing the region’s pressing housing challenges. The new development will include diverse unit types, catering to various needs.
More information about NCHC’s services can be found at Northumberland.ca/NCHC.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
