New transitional housing facility opens in Guelph

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A new 28-unit transitional housing facility is officially open at 65 Delhi Street in Guelph.

The facility is operated by the County of Wellington. The county describes transitional housing is temporary housing with associated support services, meant to provide an intermediate step between emergency shelter and permanent housing.

“This is a game changer. This is extremely important with our low vacancy rates, lack of affordable housing, and our addictions and mental health support needs. A facility like this and supports within this facility allow for individuals to move to permanent housing as a permanent solution,” said Dave Purdy, Wellington County’s director of housing services.

The county hopes it can give people experiencing homelessness access to supports and services to help move from homelessness to a home.

“This is vital housing for people that are really in need. This is an issue that we are always challenged with. We need to try to find the proper housing and the wraparound supports for people to have in our community that are struggling with sometimes both housing and health issues. This project delivers on both of those,” said Cam Guthrie, Guelph’s mayor.

It’s near public transit, community-based services and neighbourhood amenities, as well as job opportunities. With the idea of working with clients over three years to help with their career and finding a new home.

“Our community housing stability working group has a prioritization approach. In which identifies individuals that transitional supportive housing would be a good fit,” Purdy said.

Guelph has cleared encampments downtown and introduced a bylaw to ban encampments in certain areas while police are cracking down on open air drug use. Mayor Guthrie said this new facility is a start to helping those most vulnerable and could be replicated in the county.

“The 28 that are opening here today, is part of the 108 that have opened in the City of Guelph in just the last year,” Guthrie said.

The project cost $10.1 million, with funding coming from all levels of government, including $4.6 million from the federal government’s rapid housing initiative and $3.1 million from the City of Guelph.

Tenants will start moving in at the end of February.