Ottawa spends money on housing for Sudbury’s vulnerable
Ahmed Hussen, federal minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, was in Sudbury on Wednesday to announce $2.5 million to support shelter beds and studio units.
The accommodations are located in a community hub at 200 Larch St. where programs operate to support vulnerable people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of being homeless.
The money from Ottawa supported the completion of construction of 15 studio units on the second floor of the building.
It’s already home to the managed alcohol program, which is called Healing with Hope.
"It's been enhanced by the pandemic where mental health and addiction has increased in severity and acuity and so we need to reach out to these individuals who are looking for shelter," said Patty MacDonald, CEO of Canadian Mental Health Association Sudbury Manitoulin.
"It's really about the social determinants of health and it's being able to offer housing and offering some stability and connection with the community."
The funding also supports 35 Off the Street Shelter beds at the same location.
Hussen said the government is committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness for at-risk individuals.
"After the COVID-19 pandemic there has been an increase in the need for more affordable housing rents are going up," he said.
"So our job as a government is to continue to make those investments to build more affordable housing here. Sudbury was selected for the Rapid Housing Initiative Investments."
Mayor-elect Paul Lefebvre was at the announcement and said he plans to work hard to address the affordable housing and homelessness issues in Sudbury.
"Today it's establishing a relationship with Ottawa to make sure that we get the funding that we require for all the housing needs that we have," Lefebvre said.
"From the shelters to affordable housing, right, so there is opportunities there and for the City of Greater Sudbury it's important that we tap into those opportunities as fast as we can."
Hussen said he expects to be back in Sudbury soon with news on other projects that are moving forward to address the affordable housing crisis.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
How to overcome 'savings guilt' when you're living paycheque to paycheque
As the higher cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, many Canadians find they have even less left over at the end of every month to squirrel away for the future.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.