Fencing has been erected in an area off London Road, signaling the start of work on a new affordable housing project in Sarnia.
The County of Lambton is constructing a new three storey expansion at Maxwell Park Place.
Housing Services Department Program Administrator Melisa Johnson said prep work will start in the next few weeks.
"They're going to be starting on the foundation," said Johnson. "The actual build itself is a modular build, so the first modular unit is expected to show up sometime in the new year and we're looking at an occupancy date of summer 2022."
The addition at 993 Maxwell Street will include 24-units.
"Six of them are going to be fully accessible and we're working with March of Dimes to try to form a partnership to have them be March of Dimes supported. The other units are going to be for seniors. All one bedroom and we are going to be looking at filling those units from our centralized wait list."
Johnson said the occupancy list has yet to be finalized.
"We were waiting for construction to start to nail down the occupancy date before we looked at filling those units. So, they're not spoken for yet."
Johnson said while any new affordable units help, she admits the additional units won't even scratch the surface of need in the community.
"I believe right now our need over the next ten years is about 3,800 affordable units in the community. So, 24 units doesn't do a whole lot to reach that level."
A senior government funding commitment was announced for the project in March.
"This project received $1.3 million dollars from the Canada Ontario Community Housing Initiative. So, it is a joint provincial and federal program. We also have an application [submitted] right now for the rapid housing initiative, through the federal government, and we're hoping for a decision on that funding in the coming weeks or months."
The county will contribute $1.7 million.
The site of a new affordable housing development at Maxwell Park Place in Sarnia. November 12, 2021. SarniaNewsToday.ca photo