Hamilton city council has introduced a new system to make it easier to connect affordable housing developers with government funding. While developers say they’re happy to work with the city, they also need the province to come to the table.
City council approved a streamlined process on Wednesday where affordable and supportive housing developers submit proposals in advance. Then when funding from higher levels of government becomes available, it can be awarded to pre-approved projects quicker.
A coalition of housing developers, called “Hamilton is Home” say they’re excited to work with the city in better way, and have already submitted proposals for around 1,500 affordable and supportive units around the city.
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The major issue they say is that they need the province to start funding integrated health services to help those struggling with mental health and addiction issues within supportive housing.
Graham Cubitt, director of projects and development with Indwell, chair of Hamilton is Home said, “The number one thing the province could do is make sure they fund the supports for supportive housing. We can’t solve our encampment crisis if we don’t have integrated health supports in our new supportive housing. And that is the province’s clear responsibility. So, that would be awesome if they came to the table on that. We know as well that the federal government is putting out a lot of money through CMHC, CMHC struggles sometimes to get it out themselves, so we are looking for our federal representatives, our MPs to really advocate for us and make sure Hamilton gets the funding it needs, with the city’s support, we’re standing ready. We’ll throw the party and wait for the feds and province to show up.”
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The coalition says they have a proposal to build 418 supportive housing units ready to go, all they’re waiting on is provincial funding. They’re asking for $24 million in operating costs from the province but can’t move forward until they receive it.