Feds announce $10M for affordable housing for women and their families in Hamilton

The federal government has announced it will provide over $10 million in funding for the construction of affordable housing units in Hamilton that are geared towards women.

MP Filomena Tassi made the announcement Tuesday, saying the cash will fund the construction of 50 units at the YWCA's Ottawa Street redevelopment site.

"We believe everyone deserves an opportunity to succeed and this is why we are extremely happy to be supporting this wonderful project in Hamilton through the National Housing Strategy," Tassi said in a statement.

According to a news release, this facility will offer, "safe and affordable housing for 35 women and women-led families and 15 units will be geared toward women with developmental disabilities."

Officials say the project is a collaborative one, including the government's national housing strategy, the province and the city.

"We are thrilled to realize our vision of safe, affordable housing for women, girls and families on Ottawa Street," said Denise Christopherson, the CEO of YWCA Hamilton, in a statement.

"Housing is a starting point for women to move forward. And thanks to this commitment by the federal government, we are able to provide women with a foundation that is necessary for them to succeed. Because every dollar we invest in women is an investment in the greater community."

The new building will be built on the site of the former Ottawa Street YWCA, which the organization says was "no longer meeting the needs of the community as the facility had aged."

Non-residential space at the facility will be used to offer programs and services both to tenants and members of the community, the YWCA says.

Construction costs at the redevelopment project are expected to come in around $22.2 million in total. The YWCA says 35 units will be affordable and will have rent representing less than 79 per cent of the median market rent, and 10 units will be fully accessible, with all common areas in the building being barrier-free.