Northumberland County will refurbish and expand a residential property at 129 Kent Street in Campbellford, in partnership with the Northumberland County Housing Corporation (NCHC), to create another four units of affordable housing for the community.
“This is another example of how the county is making strategic, cost-effective investments to help address one of the most pressing issues facing our communities,” says Director of Community and Social Services Glenn Dees. “We’re using every tool available—whether it’s constructing new buildings, purchasing existing ones, or expanding units —to deliver more homes people can afford.”
The county purchased the vacant legal duplex in December 2024, using $325,790 in funding from the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative, a provincial-federal cost-shared program, along with $134,210 in County Housing Reserve funds. The building will be renovated using $75,000 in funds secured from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
In collaboration with the Municipality of Trent Hills, plans are now underway to construct an additional two units for this site. Units will be added using a modular construction approach. This will enable a faster build, reduced disruption to neighbours, and significantly lower per-unit costs—approximately $283,750 per unit, compared to $550,000 to $600,000 for traditional builds. The total project is budgeted at $1.135 million, funded through a blend of provincial grants and a draw from Housing Reserves.
“The housing affordability crisis persists, and we’re committed to keeping our foot on the gas to accelerate a concrete response,” says Warden Brian Ostrander. “The county is proud to work alongside the NCHC and the Municipality of Trent Hills to add these much-needed units to the current stock, while being thoughtful about the types of housing we deliver and the timelines in which we deliver them. With these new affordable units, we will continue to build on the model of transitional housing, where there is currently a gap in the housing continuum in our community. Making these units available will make a meaningful difference in the lives of future tenants.”
The Kent Street project, which will be ready to accept tenants in 2026, is part of a growing number of county-led affordable housing initiatives, including the Cockburn Street complex in Campbellford, the King Street redevelopment in Colborne, and the Elgin Park redevelopment as well and the multi-partner Ontario Street build in Cobourg.
“Creative and collaborative projects like this one are how we make meaningful gains in addressing the housing challenges facing our community,” says NCHC Board Chair Victor Fiume. “Our board is proud to support flexible and cost-effective solutions—like modular construction—that allow us to expand our housing portfolio faster and more affordably, while being responsive to local needs. We remain focused on building a community where everyone has access to safe, secure, and affordable housing.”
