Bradford social housing project gets boost from federal government

'We’re all in desperate need of social housing and it’s always great when we can dip into some federal funding,' said Bradford West Gwillimbury mayor

Bradfordtoday.ca
Feb. 23, 2023
Rob Paul

A social housing project on Simcoe Road in Bradford West Gwillimbury is set to receive $8.6 million in federal funding through the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI).

RHI provides funding to facilitate the rapid construction of new permanent affordable housing units for people and populations who are in severe housing need. The Rapid Housing Initiative was initiated to fast track when CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) fell behind on some targets and was created during the pandemic.

Bradford Mayor James Leduc and Ward 2 Coun. Jonathan Scott recently spoke at a County Council meeting about the importance of the funding for the needed project.

“Even though the county is the housing supplier for social housing within the county, we all have an obligation to help provide services and Bradford will step up when it comes to helping,” said Leduc. “We’re all in desperate need of social housing and it’s always great when we can dip into some federal funding. We do appreciate the effort."

The land on Simcoe Road was donated by the Town of Bradford to Simcoe County to build the 50-unit affordable housing project with the goal of helping home seniors and families as the cost of living continues to impact them.

“It’s no secret that we’re all facing pressure due to real estate costs, and that is especially true in Bradford, where we are rapidly urbanizing and facing unique needs within the County,” Scott said.  “The need for social housing has only grown, and we are very pleased that the County’s housing project on Simcoe Road, in my ward, is finally under construction.

"The fifty units for seniors and families that this project will create are much--needed, and the project is also the first phase of our revitalization of this community centre property, which over the next half decade will be transformed into an 18--acre campus including the housing project, a future town hall, rec centre and Central Park for our downtown.”

With the funding secured from the federal government, the application process handled by the County staff, and the town donating the land, Scott said it’s good to see all levels of government working collaboratively to get the project done.

"I should note that last fall, the federal government also contributed $5.3 million into our other social-services project to transform an old school we acquired from the public school board into a community hub and food bank,” Scott added. “Putting those two projects together will help the most vulnerable in Bradford, and also provide new amenities in the older end of our town, and shows how good things can happen when levels of government all work together.”

Along with the affordable residences for eligible families and seniors, the four-storey mixed-use building will include a County of Simcoe Social and Community Services office and a ground-level community space. The building will be accessible to adjacent pedestrian walkways and local transit, and is within walking distance of the GO Transit station.

In 2014, the County set a target to create 202 new affordable housing units in Bradford and once the development is complete, the County and its partner will have achieved a minimum of 63 per cent of the housing goals for Bradford.

The County of Simcoe began site work and preparation for the project in January with it expected to be completed as early as 2024. It’s part of the County of Simcoe's Our Community 10--Year Affordable Housing and Homelessness Prevention Strategy with this building adding 50 affordable housing units towards the County target of creating at least 2,685 new units by 2024.