Look inside the 73-unit affordable housing project

CTV London’s Lauren Stallone takes a tour of the St. Vincent de Paul project that will see 73 new affordable units on Huron Street.

Construction is one step closer to completion at an affordable housing project in Northeast London, expected to open in February.

“We started two and half years ago with just a hope, a dream, and a picture of a building,” said Mary Michniewicz with the St. Vincent De Paul Affordable Housing Campaign.

Located at 1500 Huron St. the development will include 73 units.

“Fifty-two are affordable and the remaining 21 are going to be market,” said Michniewicz

Deemed ‘St. Vincent’s on Huron’, the project was started by The Society of St. Vincent De Paul London, a Catholic charity.

“We were hoping to have 100 per cent affordable,” said Michniewicz. “Because of our funding from the city and from the government we had to mix it up.”

The building also includes 16 accessible units that feature 38-inch-wide door frames, six inches wider than the standard size.

“All the switches are at the right level,” said Sara Steers with The Society of St. Vincent De Paul London. “The bathrooms in all the apartments are fully accessible, and you can get into them straight from the bedrooms or hallways.”

Volunteers with the project say while this is a step in the right direction to address the homelessness crisis in our community, there is still much more to be done.

“We are going to continue, and we’ve already raised over half a million towards our second project,” said Steers. “We’re looking for land.”

The application process to live in the building will begin in September.