Huron Expositor, 2006-10-25, Page 114 4.1.11......W.4
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The Huron Expositor • October 25, 2006 Page 11
Huron County gets funding for affordable housing
Mare Hulet
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The federal and provincial govern-
ments are providing some added
affordable housing in rural Ontario
and, more importantly, Huron
County.
The County of Huron has been
allocated funding for 15 affordable
housing units, under the Affordable •
Housing Program's rental and sup-
portive housing component.
Funding is available for up to
$70,000 per unit, the governments
announced on Oct. 11.
Don Brisson, manager of housing
services with Huron County, said
this is the first significant invest-
ment in affordable rural housing
since before the Mike Harris gov-
ernment more than 15 years ago.
"It's probably not going to meet
the demand... but it's a great start,"
he said, adding there are currently
232 people on a waiting list for
affordable housing in Huron
County.
"Affordable housing has been ret-
ognized as one of the top four needs
in the county."
Of the 15 units in Huron, three
are allocated for supportive housing
for people with mental health dis-
abilities.
Two units have been allocated for
supportive housing for victims, of
domestic violence.
Projects that are currently avail-
able for this funding include: new
construction, renovations, additions,
acquisitions of rental buildings, and
conversions of non-residential build-
ings to rentals.
Those who can apply for the pro-
ject funding include private develop-
ers as well as non-profit organiza-
tions and non-profit housing corpo-
rations not in receipt of ongoing fed-
eral subsidies.
The county may stipulate some or
all of the above when calling for pro-
posals.
Projects must demonstrate that
they will be affordable to target pop-
ulations for a minimum of 20 years.
Rents for these units must be 20
per cent below the market rent as
established by the county.
Those wishing to be eligible for
one of these units must be on the
social housing waiting list.
Priority will be given to victims of
domestic violence, mental health
clients, people with physical or
developmental disabilities, low
income seniors and low income fam-
ilies and singles.
According to Brisson, areas with
large waiting lists for affordable
housing - such as Goderich and
Exeter - could receive preferential
treatment for the units.
Brisson said if county council
pledges its' support at the Nov. 29
meeting, a call for proposals could
begin as early as January.
In addition to the affordable hous-
ing units, the governments of
Ontario and Canada also provided
Huron County with $126,000 to
make home ownership affordable
for low'and moderate income house-
holds.
The money provided will be used
for down paynitents to 17 households
on the purchase of a new or resale
home.
Projects eligible for the funding
include new units including conver-
sions from non-residential use that
include a new home warranty and
resale homes provided a home
inspection is undertaken at the
prospective home owner's expense.
Units may be detached, semi-
detached, condominiums, stacked
houses, row houses or apartments.
The homes must be moderate in
size, as determined by the province
and the county.
The amount of assistance will be
five per cent of the cost of an eligible
home, to the maximum of $8,500. It
will be provided at the time of dos-
ing of the purchase and sale of the
home. No interest will be charged
on the assistance.
The purchaser's housing costs
must be at or below the average
market -selling price for the area
and must not exceed $167,500.
Units are to be located in urban
revitalization areas as defined by
the county.
Brisson said the government has
expressed a desire to have the hous-
es in larger centres such as
•Goderich, Exeter and Wingham,
rather than smaller centres such as
Seaforth or Lucknow. However, he
said county council may have other
ideas.
To be eligible for the down pay-
ment assistance, prospective pur-
chasers must meet certain criteria,
including being a renter household
buying a sole and principal resi-
dence, the household's income may
not exceed $50,500 and must also
meet any other criteria outlined by
the county.
The program has a 20 -year -afford-
ability period. If a house that is pur-
chased under this program is sold
before the 20 years, the homeowner
is required to repay the original
Affordable Housing Program contri-
bution plus five per cent of the real-
ized capital gains.
If the home is resold after 20
years, there will not be a repayment
of the contribution or capital gains.
A call for applications may be
made as soon as early winter,
Brisson said.
He also said an indepth housing
study would be presented to county
council in November which will help
to shed some more light on the
affordable housing needs in Huron
County
"We can use that when we do the
assessment of the proposals,"
Brisson said.
Th learn- more on either program,
information sessions will be held in
the Goderich Museum Theatre on
110 North St. on Nov. 6 at 2 p.m.
and in Exeter's council chambers in
the municipal building at 322 Main
St. on Nov. 6 at 10 a.m.
Interested people can also contact
Don Brisson, manager of housing
services with the Huron County
Housing Services, at 519-482-8505
ext. 254.
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