Kitchener leases city land for construction of YWCA supportive housing units
Posted Mar 23, 2021 07:47:00 PM.
Noted as a “momentous moment” by Kitchener’s Ward 6 councillor Paul Singh, the City of Kitchener has voted unanimously to approve a 50 year lease of city land to the Kitchener-Waterloo YWCA and the Region of Waterloo to support the construction of 41 supportive housing units for women experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Supported by the federal government’s Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI), the property located at 1470 Block Line is to be leased to the YWCA for $1.
Speaking during the most recent Committee of the Whole meeting, Ward 3 councillor John Gazzola offered his support for the initiative, asking for further clarification on the potential value of the 1.1 acres of land should it be offered instead to the private sector in order to generate revenue for the city. According to the city’s general manager of development services, Justin Readman, the land has an estimated value of over $2 million dollars as an outright sale.
“I think this is a phenomenal day for us as a community,” said Singh. “We have assets, we have land and we have the ability to create these opportunities. And now, because of that partnership with the region, the YWCA and higher orders of government, we’re creating 41 supportive housing units. Kudos to everyone – that’s the value.”
Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic also expressed his support for the construction of the supportive housing units, calling it one of the first steps in the city’s housing strategy as well as its “Make It Kitchener 2.0” strategy. Vrbanovic was also sure to acknowledge the support of the federal government, as he said he’s hopeful that additional funds will be made available to the region and other municipalities through RHI to meet the demand of our communities “as quickly as possible”.
“When we think about it, women are the group that have been most impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This partnership with YW in order to support this project, this initiative to supply supportive housing to single women is really exciting from my perspective.”
Ward 1 councillor Scott Davey also said he was pleased to see the City of Kitchener “putting our money where our mouth is” even though “lower tier municipalities” are not directly responsible for affordable housing.
Tonight council approved a 50-year-lease of city-land to help construct 41 supportive-housing units for at-risk women.
In doing this, we're forgoing ~$2M+ in revenue even though #affordablehousing isn't squarely in our jurisdiction.
Why? Because it's the right thing to do.
— Scott Davey
