Federal and Provincial Government Fund $2.5 Million To Provide More Affordable Housing In Peterborough-Kawartha

The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario have funded $2,457,000 to help create 63 more affordable community housing units for the Hunt Terrance on 555 Bonacord St., announced on Monday morning.

Jeff Leal, Peterborough mayor (left), Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP (middle) and Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County warden at the Hunt Terrace on 555 Bonacord St. Amenities in the building include dining room with meal options, laundry facilities and a common room. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“What it does is it reduces the actual operating costs for the building because we're cutting that mortgage down by $2.5 million,” explained Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MP. “That mortgage payment on that amount is not going to be factored into what they have to have in order to operate it so it gives them the flexibility then to lower the cost on 63 of the units in total.”

The funding is part of a project investment of over $46 million through the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) to create 267 affordable housing units across the province according to a press release.

Hunt Terrace is a six-storey building that has 85 units in total including both one- and two-bedroom units. There are specific units for those who require health and/or housing support which is provided on-site through community partners.

“555 Bonaccord is a unique building for PHC (Peterborough Housing Corporation), offering both market and affordable units in a multigenerational setting,” said Hope Lee, PHC CEO. “The ground floor commercial space offers several amenities such as on-site offices for support partners, common spaces for tenants, meeting facilities for the public and dining options for both tenants and the public. The COCHI funding is a much-appreciated contribution towards our capital costs.”

"Our community is working together to build affordable housing, to build homes,” said Jeff Leal, Peterborough mayor. The dedicated team at the City’s social housing agency, Peterborough Housing Corporation, led a true community effort to build the $31.1-million, 85-unit second phase at Hunt Terraces that includes 65 community housing units and 20 market rent units.”

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Update on Modular Temporary Housing on Wolfe Street in Peterborough

Construction fencing is being installed at the municipal parking lots at the east end of Wolfe Street starting July 12 in preparation for the placement of modular temporary housing on the site in the fall.

photo by david tuan bui.

The fencing is being installed around the municipal parking lot at Wolfe and Aylmer streets as well as along sections of the south and north sides of the Rehill Parking Lot that is between Dalhousie and Wolfe streets. Gates have been put up to prevent vehicular access to the parking lots.

Temporary washrooms will be installed in the Rehill Parking Lot in the next couple of weeks.

Social Services outreach workers are speaking with individuals at the encampment site who are experiencing homelessness as part of the preparations for the modular temporary housing. Temporary modular housing units will offer a new housing option for individuals who are experiencing homelessness.

Through an enhanced homelessness services plan approved by Council, the City is installing modular temporary housing, will provide a new drop-in centre service, and will convert the Wolfe Street building that is currently used for the Overflow Shelter Bed service into a homelessness services hub with community agencies providing services out of the building.

In addition to speaking with people who are experiencing homelessness, the City is working with the surrounding neighbourhood. A neighbourhood liaison committee is being created with residents, Council representatives, a representative from Peterborough Police Service, and City staff members.

The construction fencing is temporary. Planning for the modular temporary housing will include site design and privacy fencing for both the residents of the modular temporary housing and the residents who live in the surrounding neighbourhood.

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Grade Six Student Earns $10,000 Grant For Habitat For Humanity From National Writing Contest

Grade 6 student Ellyot W. earned Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region a $10,000 grant after being announced as a runner-up in the Meaning of Home national writing contest.

Ellyot read her story during the ground-breaking ceremony of Habitat’s phase two project on Leahy’s Lane. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The contest encourages students in Grades 4-6 to share what home means to them through a short essay or poem.

Students were asked what the ‘Meaning of Home’ is to them and 12,265 students were entered into the contest. Ellyot was one of nine runner-ups with her entry ‘What Home Means To Me.’

“I’d like to congratulate Ellyot for her participation and incredible efforts in supporting affordable housing in her community,” said Susan Zambonin, Habitat CEO. “Her winning $10,000 grant will go towards building 12 new affordable homes on the very ground in which she stood and read her winning entry on Tuesday morning. Because of her hard work and heartfelt story, we can help more local families and individuals have access to safe and affordable homeownership.”

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Habitat for Humanity Holds Ground-Breaking Ceremony of Phase Two For a 12-Unit Condo On Leahy's Lane

A ground-breaking ceremony kicked off the development of Habitat for Humanity & Kawartha Region’s 12-unit condo development as Phase Two at Leahy’s Lane on Tuesday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The condo is located next to their Phase One development on the same road that will have 11 two-bedroom units and a single one-bedroom unit.

“With the success of Phase 1, we are excited to be able to provide more affordable homeownership opportunities for local families and individuals in the community,” said Susan Zambonin, Habitat CEO. “Thanks to the continued investment from the Government of Canada and CMHC, more lives will be transformed through a community effort to help families build strength, stability and self-reliance.”

The unit provides local families and individuals with affordable housing through Habitat for Humanity’s model of affordable homeownership according to a press release.

This innovative development is supported by the Government of Canada through the National Housing Strategy’s National Housing Co-Investment Fund. The Government of Canada has invested $600,000 into these homes. The funding helps Habitatget closer to creating 1,117 new affordable homes across Canada.

Applications for Phase Two are open until all 12 homeowners are selected. For more information on applying for Habitat PKR homeownership, visit their website.

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Volunteers Sought For Cleanup of 30 Sleeping Cabins For the Unhoused at Former Peterborough Humane Society Site

Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) is seeking volunteers on five consecutive Saturdays to clean up the new site for 30 sleeping cabins for the unhoused, announced on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of PATH.

The cleanup is at the former Peterborough Humane Society building on Lansdowne Street East. The first scheduled date is this Saturday with June 24 as the last day. Times have yet to be scheduled for the cleanup dates at this time.

The announcement of the cabins was made on April 25, as Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) has leased the property on a three-year deal to PATH to build the cabins.

The houses are meant to create a transitional living center for individuals in the community who are unhoused. 

The area requires The City of Peterborough to rezone the area as ‘temporary use’ in order to build the cabins. They are expected to be built by 2024.

(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) TRISH CAMPBELL, PATH CHAIR; SUSAN ZAMBONI, HABITAT PKR CEO, KEITH DALTON, PATH LAND ACQUISITION WORKING GROUP LEAD AND JENN MACDONALD, HABITAT KPR COMMUNICATIONS AND DONOR SERVICES MANAGER. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

The following are all the dates for cleanup:

• May 20

• June 3

• June 10

• June 17

• June 24

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Former Peterborough Humane Society Designated As New Site For 30 Sleeping Cabins For the Unhoused

Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) is planning to lease property to Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) to build 30 sleeping cabins for unhoused people, announced on Tuesday.

(From left to right) Trish Campbell, PATH chair; Susan Zamboni, Habitat PKR CEO, Keith Dalton, PATH land acquisition working group lead and Jenn MacDonald, Habitat KPR Communications and donor services manager. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The location is behind the former Peterborough Human Society building on Lansdowne Street East. Habitat KPR has agreed to sign a three-year lease with PATH for the latter to use the tiny homes. The former has future plans to build a mixed-use development according to Susan Zamboni, Habitat PKR CEO.

“We will be purchasing the property at the end of June,” she said. “We have an accepted offer and then PATH will start renting it at that point and doing some renovations inside the building to meet their needs for three years.”

The houses are meant to create a transitional living center for individuals in the community who are unhoused. 

“Our goal is to build a bridge between homelessness and stable, permanent housing,” said Campbell.

The area will require rezoning for ‘temporary use’ with the City of Peterborough’s permission which has already started according to Campbell.

“They've already gone through the pre-consultation for that so I feel very confident that they're going to get it and have the support of the City Council when it comes time,” she explained.

The buildings are 30 sleeping cabins for individuals behind the former Peterborough Humane Society (PHS planned for 2024. PHS moved to their new Animal Care Centre in mid-January.

City Council denied a motion for 10 tiny homes to be built but the dismissal did not stop PATH’s determination for getting tiny homes into Peterborough according to Trish Campbell, PATH chair.

“We met a lot of the City staff, planners and Council and it's all good in the end,” she said.

The project is in the early development stages and will host an open house in the coming weeks to provide further information and receive provide feedback. Residents can submit questions, comments or statements of support to pathadm22@gmail.com.

“We want to see as many people in affordable home ownership as possible and in the next three years, we want to see as many people go through the PATH program from sleeping cabins to maybe rent geared to income, rentals to maybe even market. That's the path that we seek,” added Campbell.

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Trent Leasing University-Owned Land to RDC to Build Student Housing Totaling Roughly 215 Beds on Water Street

Trent University has leased property for Residence Development Corporation (RDC) to build and operate an upper-year student housing building with approximately 215 beds near the Symons Campus in Peterborough announced on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

The land is four-acres on Water Street, adjacent to and south of Tim Hortons. The housing complex is projected to open in late 2024. RDC also built University residence units further north on Water Street at Nassau Mills Road, on land leased from the University.

“We are thrilled to announce this new project by RDC to build additional student housing. RDC has a proven track record of building and operating safe, quality student housing,and this development will provide more housing options for upper-year students close to the Symons Campus,” said Julie Davis, vice-president of external relations and development. “There is a need for more housing in Peterborough and this new student housing project is just one of the ways Trent is working to help alleviate some of the housing pressures in our community.”

The land is already been zoned for residential use. RDC will build and operate the three-storey townhouse-style building.

“RDC has been working with the University since 2008 as we began the process of building out the Water Street student housing development,” said Brian Freeman, senior vice president of strategy and development at Campus Living Centres. “We have worked closely with a number of campus stakeholders since then and are proud to be part of the Trent community,”

Plans are underway to build a new residence on the Symons Campus which will be followed by a full replacement and expansion of Otonabee College, adding more than 700 new beds to the University’s current complement of residence spaces according to Trent. The University-Integrated Seniors Village will be anchored by a 224-bed not-for-profit long-term care home expected to break ground in 2024.

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James Strath Students Raise Over $4,500 for Habitat for Humanity

James Strath Public School’s student-run character council raised $4,520.65 for Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and Kawartha Region through their basket raffle fundraiser.

Photo courtesy of Krista McNamara.

James Strath’s character council is made up of 46 students Grades 6 to 8 whose goal is to better their school community with fundraising and goal-setting initiatives.

These students chose Habitat for Humanity as a charity partner, then planned and executed fundraiser.

“I actually didn’t know about the fundraiser until about a week before they announced it,” says Habitat for Humanity communications and donor services manager Jenn MacDonald. “We’re appreciative of any support, but I was blown away by how much they were able to raise.”

The students more than doubled their $2,000 fundraising goal, raising just over $4,500 through themed basket raffles.

James Strath teacher Mr. Wade gets his head shaved by henry’s barber shop in front of the school to celebrate surpassing the fundraising goal. Photo courtesy of Krista McNamara.

MacDonald says the funds raised will go towards Habitat build projects, such as the 12-unit affordable condo building at Leahy’s Lane.

“We’re really happy to say that any financial donations that come to (Habitat) go 100 per cent to the construction of our affordable housing. I’m excited to follow up with the kids and show them through the build process what their support has done for the community,” MacDonald says.

Character council has organized a number of different fundraising efforts throughout the school year, including a food drive for Kawartha Food Share and making blankets through Cuddles For Cancer for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

“We thought since we raised money for food, which is a need in our community, and made blankets which provided community members with warmth, that the next need would be shelter,” said James Strath teacher Krista McNamara. “Habitat is one of those organizations that always puts the community first and as schools are the hub of our community, we really need to blend together and support each other.”

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City of Peterborough Holding Consultation Meeting Of Multi-Storey Affordable Housing Development on Monaghan Road

The City of Peterborough is holding a drop-in meeting of a multi-storey affordable housing development on 681 Monaghan Rd. to view the design and speak with the project team announced on Thursday.

A digital rendering of the six-storey building on Monaghan Road. Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The meeting is being held at the Healthy Planet Arena banquet hall from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 7.

“Our community is taking action to create more affordable housing. The new development on Monaghan Road along with projects such as the 85-unit second phase of the Hunt Terrace development on Bonaccord Street are essential to the health of our community, providing homes for individuals and families,” said Councillor Keith Riel, Chair of Council’s Housing Portfolio.

The property on Monaghan Road is between Gillespie Avenue and McKellar Street. Initial building plans are six storeys with 53 units, including 37 one-bedroom units, 11 two-bedroom units and five three-bedroom units.

The project is in the preliminary design stage. Construction could start by late spring-early summer and be completed by summer next year, depending on funding applications.

Residents can post comments and ask questions about the development by going online. The project team will respond to questions submitted through the project page. Submitted questions and responses may be shared for other viewers to see without identifying the person who submitted the question.

The existing former office building is being removed in preparation for the new unit. The City acquired the property in November 2020.

Salandria Ltd. has been contracted with the building’s demolition to be done in mid February.

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‘The Meaning of Home’ National Student Writing Contest Returns in Support of Local Habitat for Humanity Organizations

Local elementary students Grades 4, 5 and 6 will have the opportunity to share what home means to them in ‘The Meaning of Home’ national writing contest to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region.

photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region.

Founded by Sagen, the Meaning of Home contest has raised over $2 million to help local Habitats across Canada build decent and affordable housing since 2007.

Three grand prize winners will each receive a $30,000 grant to help a local Habitat for Humanity build a place to call home for a family in need of affordable housing. In addition, nine runners up will receive a $10,000 grant for their local Habitat for Humanity. Winners will be announced by June.

As housing continues to be an important concern for all Canadians, it is children especially who understand how housing can provide their family with a place to study, pursue their dreams and build a better life. Every student who enters the contest will help Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region build safe and affordable homes, because every entry earns a $10 donation towards their local Habitat for Humanity.

“It is so wonderful to see the enthusiastic response each year from parents, teachers and especially the children who enter this contest and share what home means to them in their own words,” say Habitat for Humanity Canada president and CEO Julia Deans. “We know that having a safe and affordable place to call home helps people build better lives and stronger communities.”

Last year over 13,000 entries were received, the largest number of submissions Habitat Canada has ever received for this contest and raised over $311,000. From entries in 2020 and 2021, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region had 3 runner-up winners in grades 5 and 6 which lead to $30,000 in grants towards the 41-unit condo project on Leahy’s Lane in the City of Peterborough, along with a class pizza party and a tablet for the student winners.

“The Meaning of Home contest provides an opportunity to engage youth in discussions around the current state of housing, and to feel inspired about our next generation of leaders,” says Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region communications & donor services manager Jenn MacDonald. “Not only do students have a greater sense of appreciation for home, but they actively participate in giving back to their community. It’s truly a win-win!”

Submissions for this years contest are being accepted by mail or online from Jan. 9 until Feb. 24.

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