AH Council Talks Affordable Housing

Craig Bakay | Apr 26, 2023

There are 77 households on the waiting list for rent geared to income housing units (RGI) in Addington Highlands for 42 units, Lynn Chenier, director of social services for Prince Edward Lennox & Addington Social Services (PELASS) told Council at its regular meeting April 18 in Denbigh.

PELASS administers 300 rent geared to income units in Lennox & Addington, the vast majority of which are in Greater Napanee, she said.

She said PELASS has participated in a variety of projects including public-private partnerships.

“Most recently, we’ve been able to create an affordable housing project located in Tamworth which will soon be ready for occupancy,” she said. “L & A hasn’t had an opportunity in many years to develop affordable housing.”

She said Addington Highlands has 25 RGI units of which 16 are non-profit and one is rent supplemented.

The eight units in Tamworth include six ‘affordable’ ($686/month) and two RGI. Four are ‘barrier-free.’

“A friend of mine was told there is a seven-to-10 year wait time for getting into Pine Grove apartments,” said Coun. Ken Hook.

“A lot of people will never make it into a unit because of wait-time,” Chenier said.

“That’s what she said ‘I’ll never make it,’” said Hook.

“It’s been a real challenge for rural municipalities because we don’t need a big five or 10 storey building,” Chenier said. “These four-unit plexes developed in Tamworth are a good model (but) they are a real challenge because they are expensive at a cost of just over $400,000 per unit.

“But they are built to last much longer than a 20-year agreement we have with private landlords.”

She said that if they can get the funding, they’d like to build units in Kaladar and Denbigh.

Coun. Helen Yanch asked what’s the criteria for getting into one of these units. “I always assumed the building in Flinton was just for seniors.

“That building used to be seniors but now it’s what we call an ‘adult building’,” said Scott Richardson, PELASS housing manager. “That’s because our largest waiting list used to be for single people who weren’t seniors.

“The eligibility criteria is for Canadian citizens or landed immigrants and you have to have an income of less than $36,000 per year.”

Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch asked if the Township has any say in who the units are rented to.

“Anybody in Canada can apply but generally don’t,” said Richardson. “Nobody’s applying from Mississauga to live in Northbrook.”

“So, what should we be doing now?” said Fritsch.

“I think the biggest key is when funding comes out, is to be able to take advantage of a very narrow window,” Chenier said. “The biggest thing that would help is to identify land parcels, make sure they’re available, zoned and with no environmental issues so that when an opportunity comes, you don’t have to figure out where to build.

“The next most important thing is a needs assessment but the County is looking at doing that.”

New Denbigh Playground, next steps

Depuy Clerk Patricia Gray said that a playground planner has been contacted to provide new details regarding the proposed playground upgrade at Heritage Park in Denbigh.

New streetlight in Northbrool

After reports from three councillors saying they had gone to Lloyd Street in Northbrook and agreed that it is quite dark there, Council approved the installation of a new street light in the area.

One year delay for Inclusive Communities grant

Dep. Clerk Patricia Gray said that after going over an application for an Inclusive Communities Grant for an ‘age-friendly community plan’ it was her opinion that it would be in the Township’s best interest to delay applying for this grant until next year so that more groundwork can be done.

Disposal fees up

Council voted to accept proposed changes to disposal fees made by the Waste Management/Diversion Working Group.

Disposal fees had been in effect since 2017.

For example the rate for a pickup truck full of waste goes to $20-$40 from $15.

Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch said the range allows waste site attendants some discretion depending on how full trucks and trailers actually are.

Ranger camp demolition

Dep. Clerk Patricia Gray reported that they’ve received intentions for an environmental impact study leading to the demolition of 19 structures at the Machesney Lake Ontario Ranger camp. The plan is to let the area return to its original vegetative state.