Windsor opens 19-unit affordable housing apartment building

WE Community Housing has unveiled 19 new affordable units, with thousands of people on the waitlist. CTV's Robert Lothian reports.

A new affordable housing development in Downtown Windsor was unveiled by officials Friday afternoon.

A former hospital building, the “Grace on Ouellette Apartments,” adds 19 new affordable units to Windsor’s housing stock, as the demand continues to grow.

“This is another step in helping to deal with the housing and homelessness issue that we see happening in our community,” said Mayor Drew Dilkens.

Originally a proposed 15-unit build, the number of units was expanded due to the acquisition of an additional parcel of land and efficiencies found by the builder.

Managed by the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation, the units are a mix of studio and one-bedroom apartments.

Fabio Costante, the corporation’s CEO, noted a studio apartment is just under $800, while a 1-bedroom unit is $893.

“We’re talking about 19 individuals and families who previously were finding it challenging to access affordable housing can now access affordable housing,” Costante said.

The building was sold to the CHC by Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) with a $350,000 discount.

Located at 1106 Ouellette, the building is steps away from the Windsor Regional Hospital’s Ouellette Campus and sits on major transit routes.

So far, officials noted 15 of the units are being leased, and the remaining four are being reserved for those using the Homeless and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub at HDGH.

“It just really completes the wraparound supports of what the Heart Hub is meant to accomplish, and helps people get settled in, starting out in being more independent,” said Sheri McGeen, the hospital’s chief human resources officer.

Each unit, equipped with a bathroom and kitchen, will operate on a one-year lease like a typical rental agreement.

Windsor, like many communities across Ontario, continues to face a long waitlist for those seeking affordable housing.

With a waitlist exceeding 7,000 people, the addition of less than 20 units can appear like a drop in the bucket.

“Let’s not always get bogged down by the big challenges we have,” Costante said. “Let’s focus on the small things that we can do every single day that lead to big change, and this is one of those steps in that direction.”

With the open units already accounted for, Costante expects all units to be in use within the coming weeks.

The project received about $4.5 million in grants from the provincial and federal governments, and $400,000 from the City of Windsor.