New funding supports innovative ways to address homelessness and affordable housing

Waterloo Region - The federal government is investing $479,350 into local projects that will develop innovative ways to address affordable housing and homelessness.

House of Friendship, the Region of Waterloo, and Union Sustainable Development Co-operative are three of 38 organizations across the country to receive the funding as part of the National Housing Strategy Solutions Lab. The grants, provided by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, will support the following projects:

• Beyond Shelter: A Relationship-Based Approach to Emergency Housing and Health Care ($120,450) – House of Friendship. The Solutions Lab will tackle the question of how we might bring together health care and housing supports to help more people in Waterloo Region transition out of homelessness. www.sheltercare.ca
• Accessing Affordable Home Ownership Opportunities for Community Housing Tenants ($175,500) – Region of Waterloo. The Solutions Lab will look at opportunities to open up community housing units for people on the waiting list by supporting current tenants into home ownership. www.engagewr.ca/housing-solutions-lab
• Retail-level Investments for Affordable Housing ($183,400) – Union Sustainable Development Co-operative. The Solutions Lab will develop a co-operative affordable housing model that can leverage the investments of local community members to acquire existing properties.  www.unionsd.coop

Consultants funded by the grants will provide innovative methods and tools to help address each of these complex housing issues. Outcomes will include practical solutions that support a culture of innovation in the housing and homelessness sector. The solutions will be evaluated and can be used by other communities to support more people into housing that is affordable.

Quotes

“It takes a community to achieve homes for all and it’s great to see partners in the housing sector working towards this goal in innovative ways,” said Regional Chair Karen Redman. “Ensuring that everyone has a stable home requires creative thinking and these projects will supplement the great work already underway, including the creation of new affordable housing.”

“A healthy, thriving community requires multiple options regardless of where someone is at in their housing journey and these projects will help contribute additional supports along that path,” said Bruce Lauckner, CAO at the Region of Waterloo.

“We are thrilled to be able to use this funding to work with the community to improve the shelter system in Waterloo Region,” said Jessica Bondy, Housing Services Director at House of Friendship. “With this support, we will be able to learn more about the benefits of providing integrated health-care supports to those experiencing homelessness, and come up with innovative solutions that help more individuals transition to housing.”

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For more information, contact:

Sherry Morley, Corporate Communications Specialist, Region of Waterloo
smorley@regionofwaterloo.ca

Gail Martin, Marketing & Communications Specialist, House of Friendship
gailm@houseoffriendship.org

Sean Campbell, Union: Sustainable Development Cooperative
sean@unionsd.coop

About House of Friendship: Founded in 1939, House of Friendship serves Waterloo Region with a vision to build a healthy community where everyone can belong and thrive.  Each year, House of Friendship supports more than 42,000 people who need food, housing, addiction treatment or access to vital community resources. www.houseoffriendship.org

About Region of Waterloo: The Region of Waterloo provides more than 60 per cent of municipal services to a growing population of 570,000 people. We are committed to creating an inclusive, thriving and sustainable community through innovative leadership and a range of services such as: public health, social services, planning, heritage, water supply, regional roads, waste management, ambulance service, rural libraries, public transit, community housing, emergency planning, Provincial Offences Courts and airport services. www.regionofwaterloo.ca

About Union: Sustainable Development Co-operative: Union is a co-operative that seeks to democratize city-building by empowering its members to collectively buy, upgrade, and manage commercial and residential properties to improve the economic, social, and environmental health of Waterloo Region. The Co-operative was founded in response to rising rental rates in Waterloo Region that are becoming unaffordable for a growing share of residents and local businesses. The members of Union Co-operative are working towards the purchase of the Co-operative’s first property. www.unionsd.coop