The Prince Edward County Affordable Housing Corporation gave an update to county council on the organization’s efforts to expand affordable housing in the county.
The update came as part of Tuesday’s council meeting where Councillor Phil St-Jean and Brad Nieman, who serve on the corporation’s board, informed the rest of council about the status of the corporation.
The organization has faced several challenges since it’s founding. While they’ve secured some properties with intent to develop them, securing funding has proven difficult, leaving projects stalled.
Despite the challenges, plans are in place to complete work on a property at 30 Disraeli Street in Picton this year. Of the 8 units at the building, three are set for affordable housing. Those units are expected to be occupied in the 4th quarter. Development at the former Duke Dome site in Wellington is expected to begin in 2027, with the site described as “shovel ready”
After the presentation, multiple councillors voiced their concerns with the organization’s lack of progress since it’s founding. Councillor Chris Braney said that he was starting to lose faith in the affoardable housing corporation’s ability to accomplish it’s mandate.
“I think county residents are getting very impatient,” said councillor Braney. “What I’m saying is, we’ve had the Affordable Housing Corporation for seven years. We’ve put a lot of money at it municipally, and we haven’t even produced a single unit.”
Ultimately, council accepted the presentation for information, but took no further action at this time.
