"People Are Just Getting Poorer" Peterborough's Housing Crisis Worse Than a Year Ago Says United Way

The United Way Peterborough & District’s 18th Edition of Housing is Fundamental report says that the city’s housing crisis has become worse than a year ago according to author Paul Armstrong.

Paul Armstrong authored the Housing is Fundamental report annually. The report was relased publicly a day after World Homelessness Day, held on Oct. 10. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The announcement was made at United Way Peterborough & District as part of their annual report written by Armstrong that started 18 years ago.

It provides an overview of Peterborough's local rental market while also highlighting the impacts of the commodification of housing and income inequality.

“People are just getting poorer. That's all there is to it,” said Armstrong. “When your rent keeps going up and up and up, you're not in a position of having the same disposable income and without that disposable income, you're going to have to back away from something else in the marketplace. “

Armstrong’s key findings include:

• Peterborough's vacancy rate is the lowest in Ontario for the second year in a row at 1.1 per cent

• Newly vacant apartment rents were 19 per cent higher than the rent of occupied units

• Recovery in employment and renewed student inflows supported rental demand

• 70 units were added to the market, which is the largest increase in the last 15 years

Armstrong’s localized statistical figures based on data from Statistics Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CHC).

“Never has housing commanded so much attention,” said Armstrong. “Almost daily, reports highlight shortages of purpose-built rental units and widespread affordability challenges. The current dilemma, while newsworthy, isn't new. Its roots can be traced to federal government decisions made in the 1990s. Three decades later social or rent-geared-to-income housing has never been so needed. And 'affordable' housing, which is 10 per cent - 20 per cent below market rents is all but unattainable.”

His report also found that rental demand kept pace with supply growth last year and two-bedroom rentals are 23 per cent higher upon turnover to new tenants.

“Both homelessness and severe housing burden now exist in dangerous proportions. Governments hopefully have learned that reliance on the private market to meet all housing needs is imaginary and unfounded. They (governments) must get back into the game with appropriate policy and adequate funding.”

Armstrong continues to mention that this year's perspective is critical as there is a growing cost of living, particularly in housing and food costs.

Jim Russell, United Way CEO described rising housing costs' impacts on our community members.

“Housing is Fundamental to well-being,” he said. “As we strive to build a better community together, a basic starting point is safe, affordable housing for all.”

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City of Peterborough Postpones Monaghan Housing Unit Groundbreaking Ceremony

The official groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new six-storey, 53-unit affordable housing building at 681 Monaghan Rd. has been postponed to align with an upcoming announcement according to the City of Peterborough announced on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.

A new date will be released once the City confirms the details.

Construction is expected to be completed by mid-2024.

The City of Peterborough is building the affordable housing project on property they own and the housing will be managed by the City’s social housing agency, Peterborough Housing Corporation.

Information on the project is available on the City’s online community engagement hub, Connect Peterborough, at connectptbo.ca/affordable-housing-project.

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City of Peterborough Provides Overflow Shelter Bed Program Update

The City of Peterborough has updated the Overflow Shelter Bed Program.

File Photo.

The Overflow Shelter Bed Program at 210 Wolfe St. will temporarily relocate to the Peterborough Public Library starting Thursday to allow renovations to begin on the Wolfe Street building. It will be converted into a service hub for people experiencing homelessness who will be living in a new Modular Bridge Housing community. 

The Overflow Shelter Bed Program will operate overnight in the lower level of the Library from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily, outside of the regular business hours of the Library at 345 Aylmer St. N., temporarily until the new winter overnight drop-in space operated by One City at Trinity Centre opens this fall. 

With progress underway on the construction and installation of the Modular Bridge Housing community at the Rehill Parking Lot on Wolfe Street, preparations will start on the new hub for homelessness services that will be in the building that is currently used for the Overflow Shelter Bed Program at 210 Wolfe St. 

Occupancy of the Modular Bridge Housing community with 50 units is expected in the fall. 

The Overflow Shelter Bed Program will continue to operate as an overnight emergency shelter used when the main shelters are at capacity.  

There are 106 shelter beds in the shelter system, which includes the three main shelters – Brock Mission, Cameron House, and the YES Shelter – and the Overflow Shelter Bed Program. The Overflow Shelter has 32 beds. Over the last week, an average of four beds have been used and 28 are available at the Overflow Shelter nightly.

Last week, One City and the City of Peterborough announced that they have entered into a three-year agreement for One City to operate a winter overnight drop-in space at the Trinity Centre in the former Trinity United Church at 360 Reid St. One City is completing renovations of its space. When One City opens the winter overnight drop-in space, the Overflow Shelter Bed Program will be closed. There will be no gap in service during the transition between the two programs. 

The winter overnight drop-in space is part of a winter homelessness response strategy and a broader homelessness services plan approved by City Council. 

In addition to the winter overnight drop-in space, One City will operate a year-round daytime drop-in centre. 

The Overflow Shelter Bed Program temporarily operated at the Peterborough Public Library from July 2019 to February 2020, when it relocated to the Murray Street Baptist Church before moving to its current location in a former office building at 210 Wolfe St. in February 2021. 

To access emergency shelter, individuals can use the contact information provided below: 

• Brock Mission for men, 217 Murray St., 705-748-4766, ext. 1 

• Cameron House for women, 738 Chemong Rd., 705-748-4766, ext. 2 

• YES Shelter for Youth and Families, 196 Brock St., 705-748-3851 

• Overflow Shelter Bed Program, when the main shelters are full, 345 Aylmer St. N. starting September 21 

Individuals without a phone can visit the Social Services office at 178 Charlotte St. to connect with available shelter services. 

Individuals can call 705-926-0096 for shelter services outside of regular office hours.

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AON Inc Planning 550 Premier Seniors Development Units On Clonsilla Avenue

Planning multi-phase apartment buildings, retirement homes and premier seniors development by AON Inc. has begun as part of their AIRWAYS development project at the Kawartha Golf Club, announced on Wednesday.

Brad Smith (left) and Rob Elliot (right) at the site of where the units will be built on Clonsilla Avenue over 22-acres. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The 22-acre community will be spread out over up to eight buildings and include many outdoor community amenities according to a press release. Located at the end of Clonsilla Road near Lansdowne Street, the property is off a hilltop which has great views according to Brad Smith, AON President.

“The views from this area are phenomenal,” he explained. “You either have views of the golf course or overlooking the City of Peterborough with all the trees in the area and the views in the fall are spectacular. When I was putting this together, it really fit with our portfolio and the growth of the seniors community.”

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Kawartha Golf Club remains intact during the whole construction process set to begin next year. The proposed units to be built could aid in generating extra income for the club as they look forward to working with AON Inc. according to Rob Elliot, Kawartha Golf Club president.

“The Kawartha Golf Club looks forward to AON Inc. creating this wonderful community and the opportunities that may arise for the Club to integrate with it,” he said.

“There will be nothing in size and variety to compare to this project in Peterborough and the region’s growing seniors’ population will welcome these much-needed residential options including the safety features this community will offer them,” said Smith. “Never have so many senior geared lifestyle options been incorporated into one community. The FAIRWAYS will be a premier community for seniors and AON is excited to commence on the necessary next steps with the City of Peterborough to make this community a reality.”

This is a proposed development of 550 units and must go through the approval processes with the City of Peterborough. At this time, the plan remains a proposal until formally finalized.

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City Council Amends By-Law To Allow Tenting On Wolfe Street Municipal Parking Lot

After a City Council meeting on Aug. 5, the City of Peterborough’s Parks and Facilities by-law and Trespass by-law has been temporarily amended to temporarily allow tenting on the Wolfe Street municipal parking lot.

There are beds available within the City’s shelter system which includes 106 beds at four emergency shelters. Last week, there was an average of 40 beds available each night including 27 each night at the overflow shelter bed program. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The lot is at the southeast corner of Aylmer and Wolfe Street where construction of a new Modular Bridge Housing community on the nearby Rehill Parking Lot is occurring.

Allowing tenting on the secondary parking lot at Aylmer and Wolfe Streets helps create a clear, safe work site for the construction of the Modular Bridge Housing community that will include 50 individual units for people experiencing homelessness according to the City.

Tenting remains prohibited on all other City properties, except Beavermead Campground when permitted.

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Dietrich Homes Nominated For Two Awards Including Builder of the Year

Dietrich Homes is a finalist for the Ontario Home Builders' Association (OHBA)'s 2023 Awards of Distinction for Builder of the Year (Small Volume) and for Low-Rise Amenity announced on Thursday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of Dietrich Homes.

The OHBA Awards of Distinction recognizes the creativity, innovation and excellence of land developers, builders, renovators, designers, marketers and service professionals within the Ontario residential construction industry according to a press release.

“Dietrich Homes is thrilled to be announced as a 2023 Builder of the Year (Low Volume) and Low-Rise Amenity finalist,” said Paul Dietrich, Dietrich Homes owner and builder. “We appreciate the recognition from our Industry peers and colleagues of our team efforts and engagement of our Preferred Vendors to deliver an exceptional product with an outstanding client experience.”

The OHBA's 2023 Awards of Distinction ceremony will occur on Sept. 19 in Collingwood, Ontario.

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Rotary Club of Peterborough Makes $50,000 Donation to YES Shelter To Expand Housing

To expand housing, The Rotary Club of Peterborough has donated $50,000 to the YES Shelter for Youth and Families in a cheque presentation made on Monday afternoon.

This funding is a part of Rotary’s Centennial Celebrations, helping the community in their 100th year of local service. Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Peterborough.

This funding allows YES to open three new permanent spaces in their RISE Youth Housing Program. It facilitates the renovation and maintenance of an existing RISE Youth Housing location according to a press release.

“I am pleased to be presenting this cheque for the YES RISE Youth Housing Program to fund a place and program where youth are supported with skills to transition from homelessness and living in a shelter towards living on their own often finishing high school, a college program or into employment,” said Betty Halman-Plumley, Rotary president.

The $50,000 is part of the Rotary’s $100,000 commitment that was made last year.

“The Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha is very pleased to partner with the Peterborough Rotary Club in providing funding for YES’ Rise Youth Housing Program,” said Paul Landau, Peterborough Kawartha Club president. “This program ensures that youth in the community have a safe place to live and also learn strategies to support their recovery.”

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City to Build 50-Unit Modular Bridge Housing Community For the Homeless Being Constructed In September

The City of Peterborough is creating a 50-unit Modular Bridge Housing on Wolfe Street for anyone experiencing homelessness with construction to begin in September.

Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.

Several of the individual units are being built off-site before being delivered to the property. Each unit will have access to electricity, a heating and cooling system.

Over the next several weeks, through conversations to identify how support services at the Modular Bridge Housing project will align with each individual’s specific needs, the City will provide offers of accommodation for the new units as stated in a press release.

The units will be a bridge to move people into more permanent housing.

“I'm proud of the progress we've made towards the plan at Wolfe Street, and I think it’s a significant step in the right direction to address the needs of the community, and establish structure and support in the area,” said Councillor Alex Bierk, vice chair of the City's Housing and Homelessness portfolios. “We are meeting people where they are at and have put in a lot of work to collaborate with community partners and create more accessible shelter options.”

Council approved a comprehensive homelessness strategy in May. Part of the strategy includes:

• The 50-unit Modular Bridge Housing project

• Opening a new winter overnight drop-in centre

• Creating a service hub to support the Modular Bridge Housing community

Details are being finalized on the location of the winter overnight drop-in centre that will be open for six months every year and a year-round daytime meal program that will replace the current One Roof community meal program and drop-in centre.

Once the new overnight drop-in centre opens and the Modular Bridge Housing project is ready, the Wolfe Street building will be converted from an overflow shelter program into a service hub to support the Modular Bridge Housing community.

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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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