Affordable housing is always a topic of discussion across the Bay of Quinte region, especially over the past year.
In Belleville today, the city, its residents and the people behind the project celebrated the All Together affordable housing initiative that has given some relief to those in need of housing in the friendly city.
The innovative housing model was initially passed, over a year ago, and began with building A at 450 Sidney St. Fast forward to one year later and the community was able to open the doors to another building at the same address with help from the provincial government, some local non-profit and profit organizations and an Ontario Trillium Fund grant.
Today, residents and the people behind the project thanked everyone with a tour of the buildings and a barbecue.
There is a new affordable housing model in Belleville. The beautiful facility offers single bedroom units which come fully accessible and very modernized and maintained. (Photo: Alex Mahar/Quinte News.)
The housing in both buildings is fully accessible to people with special needs and serves 52 residents per building offering both affordable and market value monthly rent.
All Together volunteer president, Bob Cottrell explains.
The market value of these units is determined by the provincial government based on the rates of rent across the province. The affordable housing cost is for those who show a need for affordable housing based on income which makes their rent cheaper per month.
Residents are selects through community living in Belleville.
In what the residents call “a community within a community”, Jenna Bailey from All Together housing looks after the day-to-day activities and concerns surrounding the buildings.
Building resident Ben Rogers says that being new to Belleville, this is the perfect place to live.
Behind the scenes on this project were local MPP Todd Smith, Warden for Hastings County Rick Phillips, Hastings County and Quinte housing services,and MAPS development corporation who are the owners/developers of the project site.
MPP Todd Smith and resident Lucas Cuddy celebrate the opening of the new building at 450 Sidney St. with a barbecue and good weather. (Photo; Alex Mahar/Quinte News.)
Smith says that housing is still an issue in the area but it’s projects like these that are part of the solution.
The Ontario Trillium Fund grant selected this project in 2018 for a $51,000 grant. Nancy Parks who is on the board of selection explains why this project stood out in the selection process.
The City of Belleville has also backed the project by granting $25,000 under the social infrastructure fund through 2020.
The word around the new housing complex is that there is room for two more buildings at the same location which would provide affordable housing to 52 more Belleville residents in need.
