Crews are seen here working on Phase 2 of the county Elgin Park redevelopment project. Plans have been announced to create additional affordable housing units on Kent Street in Campbellford. /Northumberland County X photo
More affordable housing is in the works in Campbellford, says Northumberland County.
Northumberland County has announced plans to refurbish and expand a residential property at 129 Kent St., in partnership with the Northumberland County Housing Corporation (NCHC), to create an additional four affordable housing units in the community.
“The housing affordability crisis persists, and we’re committed to keeping our foot on the gas to accelerate a concrete response,” said Warden Brian Ostrander, following the announcement.
The county reportedly purchased the vacant legal duplex on Kent Street last December with $325,790 in funding from the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) – which is a provincial-federal cost-shared program – and $134,210 through county housing reserve funds. Further, the building is being renovated with another $75,000 secured through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, explained county staff.
In collaboration with the Municipality of Trent Hills, plans are reportedly underway now to construct an additional two units at the site using a modular construction approach. Staff said this will enable a faster build, while also reducing disruption and significantly lowering per-unit costs – a reported $283,750 per unit compared to $550,000 to $600,000 for traditional builds.
“The total project is budgeted at $1.135 million, funded through a blend of provincial grants and a draw from housing reserves,” added staff.
The Kent Street project is expected to be ready to accept tenants in 2026 – and is part of a growing portfolio of county-led affordable housing initiatives.
“This is another example of how the county is making strategic, cost-effective investments to help address one of the most pressing issues facing our communities,” said Glenn Dees, director of community and social services for the county. “We’re using every tool available – whether it’s constructing new buildings, purchasing existing ones, or expanding units – to deliver more homes people can afford.”
Demand for affordable housing in Northumberland has been repeatedly described as at an all-time high in recent years. Across the county, vacancy rates remain low, while housing and living costs continue to soar, and incomes aren’t keeping pace.
Demand through the county’s centralized waitlist for rent-geared-to-income (RGI) units has also continued to increase. While figures do fluctuate, in early May, about 1,200 people were on the waitlist for subsidized housing in Northumberland. Wait-times do vary based on a number of factors and by community but can extend up to almost a decade.
“The county is proud to work alongside the NCHC and the Municipality of Trent Hills to add these much-needed units to the current stock, while being thoughtful about the types of housing we deliver and the timelines in which we deliver them,” said Ostrander. “With these new affordable units, we will continue to build on the model of transitional housing, where there is currently a gap in the housing continuum in our community.
“Making these units available will make a meaningful difference in the lives of future tenants.”
NCHC board chair Victor Fiume echoed a similar sentiment following the announcement, saying creative and collaborative projects such as this are how meaningful gains are being made in addressing current challenges. Fiume said the board is proud to support flexible, cost-effective solutions such as modular construction, which enables expansion faster and more affordably.
“We remain focused on building a community where everyone has access to safe, secure and affordable housing,” said Fiume.
Residents looking to learn more about local affordable housing initiatives can visit the county and/or NCHC websites.
According to the latest housing statistics report from the Central Lakes Association of Realtors in June, which delved into May figures, the average sale price of home in Northumberland County was $690,187 (which is down slightly from year-over-year comparisons.)
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
