Development of more affordable housing units in Timmins is underway
An old building in downtown Timmins is getting a new look. It's the "Laroplex" building at the corner of Spruce Street South and Third Avenue.
Construction on a new facade is just about done and officials with the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board (CDSSAB) said work on the inside will take place over the winter months.
Thanks to some government funding, the housing development division of social services bought the building last August and the project is bringing more affordable housing spaces to the city.
"So it’s a nice little mix of residential and commercial ... which the development entity of the CDSSAB is looking for in properties in the downtown area," said Antoine Vezina, the housing development manager for the agency. "Just to have a diversity of income and to sustain the residential component of the property.”
And, he said he's keeping his fingers crossed for more funding in the future.
"The wait-list at Cochrane DSSAB ... is in the multiple hundreds ... and you know from COVID we’re seeing that affordability is in great need so ... to avoid homelessness issues and things like that we need more affordable housing units," said Vezina.
He also said the people who reside in units like these are often at risk of homelessness and said with this project, CDSSAB is playing a great role in trying to avoid that.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.