Rae announces $1.8M to Support Affordable Housing and Emergency Shelter Spaces
[Perth-Wellington] – Today, Matthew Rae, MPP for Perth-Wellington announced that the Government of Ontario is investing $1,866,482 throughout Perth-Wellington to create more emergency shelter spaces and affordable housing units. These accommodations will provide vulnerable people with appropriate short and long-term housing options.
“Our provincial government is focused on ensuring every Ontarian can access a home they can afford,” MPP Rae said. “This funding will assist local municipalities and community organizations in getting shovels in the ground on these affordable housing projects across Perth and Wellington Counties. Our government will be there to support the most vulnerable in our society.”
The funding that is being flowed to municipalities includes:
- $50 million for ready-to-build affordable housing projects, allocated based on how close a project is to completion and its value for money, to help projects near completion but in need of additional targeted funding open their doors faster.
- $20 million to expand shelter capacity and create additional temporary accommodation spaces.
- $5.5 million to top up the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) to immediately free up emergency shelter spaces for people living in encampments by helping people living in shelters move into longer-term housing. This funding builds on the nearly $400 million invested in COHB between 2023 and 2024.
“Our government has delivered significant support to municipalities to address the challenges encampments can pose to public safety across Ontario,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Mayors have asked us for additional help, and we have been clear that we will provide funding to municipalities that show results in winding down these sites. We can no longer accept encampments as a place to deal with mental health and addiction issues.”
As part of the government’s commitment to ensuring Ontarians can safely use our shared public spaces, the province is working with local service managers to direct funding into communities where it is needed most. By helping municipalities and other project partners create more emergency shelter and affordable housing spaces, Ontario is helping vulnerable people move out of crisis situations and into stable accommodations.
“I wish to thank MPP Matthew Rae and the Hon. Paul Calandra, Minster of Municipal Affairs and Housing for their support in addressing homelessness in our local community,” said Martin Ritsma, Mayor of the City of Stratford. “The $300,000 one-time encampment response grant will assist us in creating six shelter beds that will help get residents out of the cold.”
“United Way is thrilled to receive $200,000 toward our Music Hall Apartments project in North Perth,” said Ryan Erb, Executive Director of United Way Perth Huron. “The funds will help United Housing renovate an underutilized second story space in downtown Listowel creating 10 new mixed income units helping us all address the housing crisis!”
“We are thankful for the funding provided by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to support the needs of those most at risk in our community,” added Kim McElroy, Director of Social Services for the City of Stratford. “These funds will not only provide immediate relief for those individuals living unsheltered but also pave the way to address the need of supportive housing within our community. We are appreciative and look forward to collaborating further with the province to ensure that everyone has a safe and stable place to call home.”
Funding as provided by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing:
| Project Name | Provincial Funding | Housing Units | Shelter Spaces |
| Welcome to Waterloo | $620,714 | 13 | |
| Encampment Response Initiative Funding | $703,295 | | 25 |
| United Housing – Music Hall Apartments | $200,000 | 10 | |
| Supportive Stratford | $42,473 | 12 | |
| City of Stratford Out of the Cold Program | $300,000 | | 6 |
| TOTAL: | $1,866,482 | 35 | 31 |