No word yet on social housing

While the province has announced millions of dollars towards social housing over the past few weeks, what this funding means for local social housing projects in Rainy River District remains to be seen.
The province had made three different housing announcements most recently, noted Dianne Lampi, housing manager for the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board.

“The first one is $704 million for renovation, repair, and retrofit of social housing units to make them more energy-efficient,” she explained, adding this funding is categorized under the Social Housing Repair and Retrofit Program (SHRRP).
A second funding announcement—to the tune of $365 million for across the province—is meant for creating affordable housing for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities, said Lampi.
A third announcement saw $175 million allotted to expanding the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program.
“So all of the announcements are great because we know the money is there, but we’re just not sure what our piece of the pie will be at this point,” Lampi remarked.
“At this time, we’re just waiting for the funding information,” she added, noting they’re anticipating guidelines and more information from the province by the end of this week or early next week.
Under the SHRRP funding, the local DSSAB so far has a proposal in for Riverview Manor in Rainy River—a proposal originally submitted to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing back in April.
The proposed Riverview Manor project is looking to make the housing more accessible to its residents, as well as partnering with outside agencies.
The DSSAB also is awaiting an announcement and funding approval of proposed capital projects for non-profit housing providers, as well as the public housing portfolios, Lampi noted.
Meanwhile, the millions announced for creating affordable rental housing for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities is one that refers to new construction, Lampi said, something which is not being done by the local DSSAB at this time.
“We’re waiting to review the guidelines to further review this option because based on the guidelines, we may be able to find a fit somewhere here,” she explained.
As for the $175 million to expand the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program, Lampi said the DSSAB is awaiting an announcement on the home repair program as to whether it will continue and if there’s an allocation attached to it, as well.