Pembroke — The Ontario government is providing $3.1 million to help create eight supportive housing units in Pembroke.

The complex at 1030 Lea Street features four one-bedroom and four two-bedroom units. Residents will have access to individualized support services such as mental health and addictions counselling, other health services, and life skills training intended to promote housing security, self-sufficiency and overall well-being. Four units are accessible and will support seniors and people with disabilities.

The units, operated by the Renfrew County Housing Corporation (RCHC), will be rent-geared-to-income, becoming part of their housing portfolio. The new build is the first addition of new construction within the more than 20-year history of RCHC. The homes are centrally located with access to schools, shopping, parks, and recreational trails, and are expected to be ready for occupancy by June 1, 2024.

The funding was announced by Rob Flack, Associate Minister of Housing.

"Our government is investing historic levels of funding in housing and homelessness prevention because we know what a positive impact in can have in the life of a vulnerable person and on a community as a whole," said Associate Minister Flack. "Working with our partners to build more supportive and affordable housing is a critical part of our plan to get at least 1.5 million homes built by 2031."

Today’s announcement is part of the province’s Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP). In 2023-24, the province began investing an additional $190.5 million annually through the HPP to help those experiencing or at risk of homelessness and support the community organizations delivering supportive housing. This funding can also be used to build new supportive housing units.

The project was also supported by the Social Services Relief Fund, which provided over $1.2 billion of support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, to help municipal service managers and Indigenous program administrators create longer-term housing solutions and help vulnerable people in Ontario, including those who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.