SAULT STE. MARIE -- To help solve a shortage of long-term care beds, the provincial government is increasing the number of beds that will be offered at Sault Ste. Marie’s Ontario Finnish Resthome.

Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano made the announcement Friday that a $30 million project will see the seniors’ living facility add a new building with 128 new long-term beds. It was originally slated to only house 60 beds.

Construction on the facility is expected to start in the fall of 2020 and take two years to complete.

“Right now we have the second-lowest number of long-term care beds for Sault-Algoma,” says Paul Belari, the Chief Executive Officer for The Ontario Finnish Resthome. “It will enhance our inventory, and give the Sault area residents a lot more choice and a better flow of people through the health system.”

Belari says the facility will be responsible for fundraising for the majority of the project and a campaign will be announced soon to help with the cost.