Working Centre to open new affordable housing units

The Working Centre is planning on building between 15 and 19 units of affordable housing with a regional government grant worth around $1,103,900 as well as$900,000 of its own money.

Joe Mancini, directorof the Kitchener-baded Working Centre, saidthe organization is opening sevento eightsingle apartment style units at 256King Street East, and is planning to purchase a fourplex and another building with six units at an undisclosed location.

"[We're] focused on individuals who have...found their way homeless or at risk of homeless, who really needsupports to ensure they can stay in a house to find a community in their housing and to relieve this constant homelessness," said Mancini.

The grant was approved by regional councillors in the community services committee meeting on Tuesday and will need to be ratified at an upcoming council meeting.

The money comes out of a federal and provincial government program calledInvestment in Affordable Housing for Ontario. Waterloo Region was allocated just under $25 million for use over the next six years.

Mancini said the Working Centre already operates 35 units of affordable housing, some of which are for permanent housing, and others that are meant to function as transition homes.

"The risk factors for individuals who have a very low income, who have certain kinds of disabilities, who may have mental health issues, the risk factors of breaking relationships, ending up on the road,ending up in a really bad rooming house, these are the factors that leave someone to end up leaving their space and ending up on the street," said Mancini.

"The goal is really to create affordable, long term, community-based housing that supports individuals."

Mancini said the Working Centre will have staff members at all the affordable housing locations. Theywill be charged with creating projects and opportunities for residents to engage with the greater community.

"It's the connection to the community that's most important," said Mancini.

"A home is just a box if it doesn't have community around it. The opportunities to participate in stuff going on in the community...sometimes some of the Working Centre projects where people can get involved in construction, or cleaning or working in the cafe, these are opportunities to participate in society, and that's part of community."

Deb Schlicter, director of housing services at the Region of Waterloo, said on Tuesday thatabout 3,500 households are on the regional waiting list for affordable housing.