An exciting time over at The Station yesterday (Sept. 29) as Indwell officially opened their second supportive housing project on Queen Street in St. Thomas.
But it went a step further as Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health announced close to $1.2 million in operational funding.
The money will be used for rent supplements along with mental health and addiction support services at the 45-unit housing project.
In March of last year, the province provided $3 million to help build 20 supportive housing units in The Station.
That money was delivered through the Social Services Relief Fund.
Owned and operated by Indwell Community Homes, The Station provides housing and services to those 18 and older with mental health addiction issues and experiencing housing instability.
Indwell, a Christian charity operating throughout southwestern Ontario, has been offering supportive and affordable housing to individuals for nearly 50 years.
Services available to tenants at The Station include program management, supervised social work, nursing, addiction support, behavioural support, housing support casework, food security and 24/7 on-call support where required.
Jones noted the investment “will support vulnerable groups requiring affordable housing and support services to live independently with access to the community-based supports they need.”
Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Rob Flack added, “These homes will make a real difference in people’s lives.”
Residents will be referred from the City of St. Thomas’ Coordinated Access System which prioritizes Elgin county residents who are without housing.
Indwell CEO Jeff Neven stressed, “Our collaborative approach to whole-person wellness is rooted in safe, stable housing that sees individuals thrive.
“We’re thrilled about expanding our partnership to include The Station and look forward to ongoing work together.”
The first collaborative project in St. Thomas is Railway City Lofts above the transit building downtown on Talbot Street.
A third undertaking – no location determined at this time – would up the number of housing units to the 100 mark.
Tenants at The Station pay $806 per month for a fully furnished, one-bedroom apartment. The rent also includes one hot meal prepared onsite.
It is expected the building will be fully occupied by the end of October.
In a media release, MP Karen Vecchio noted, “The opening of The Station in the City of St. Thomas signifies the beginning of a community, wellness services and a place to call home for individuals moving in.”
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A TRANSFORMATIVE PITCH TO CITY COUNCIL
Former Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Jeff Yurek will appear before city council at Monday’s (Oct. 2) meeting with a call to action for members.
Yurek is the Transforming Tomorrow Campaign chair for St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital and the STEGH Foundation’s MRI fundraising effort.
He will be accompanied by hospital VP Tonya Sheldon and foundation representatives to update mayor and council about the diagnostic imaging campaign.
Most importantly, make a pitch for a multi-year, $2.5 million pledge to assist with the purchase and installation of the MRI machine in addition to enhancement/expansion of the diagnostic imaging suite.
Last July, the city made the final payment on its 10-year, $3.5 million gift for The Great Expansion at the hospital.
In their letter to council the delegation points out, “By investing in our Transforming Tomorrow Campaign, St. Thomas city council can help end the need for nearly 5,000 patients and their families to travel outside our community for scans and also broaden these critical services which will enhance health outcomes.”
This includes improving stroke outcomes and reducing the length of stay at the hospital.
“And we know it’s growing and we know we’ve got some significant investments coming to Elgin county that are going to put more pressure on that.”
The letter goes on to advise, “We will also be able to attract and retain highly skilled medical professionals, keeping STEGH a leading provider of healthcare services.”
With news of the EV battery plant locating in the city and the associated infrastructure investments, council and staff are faced with significant financial asks at this time and down the road.
And remember back in June of this year, hospital president and CEO Karen Davies updated council on capacity issues at the facility.
She cautioned, “We were at capacity ahead of the pandemic.
“We did well throughout the pandemic but again, we’re maximized in our space here and that’s with our current population base.
“And we know it’s growing and we know we’ve got some significant investments coming to Elgin county that are going to put more pressure on that.”
Davies did note they have applied for provincial funding to undertake a capital development plan to address future growth.
The present site is landlocked, limiting the options available to the administration, pointed out Davies.
“To redevelop the current site, as you can imagine, has its challenges, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
“And, in fact, the last submission (to the ministry) was to build a new tower on the current property and then once that new tower is occupied, then the old tower would come down.
“You know we’re not a large footprint here and almost half of our footprint is taken up by parking.”
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THE MONEY CAN’T GROW ON TREES, THERE ARE NONE LEFT
You have to marvel at the sheer value of contracts that council members have approved over the past few months related to the Volkswagen EV battery plant.
Not only the dollar amount but with a vague indication of where the money is coming from.
Are ratepayers on the hook for any of these expenditures?
There is another contract before council for Monday’s meeting, in this case, members are being asked to approve a contract for just under $4 million relating to the Edgeware Line servicing extension and the construction of industrial parking lots on the site (see photo).
And again, it is a single-source contract, Amico, an infrastructure construction firm based out of Oldcastle, Ontario.
With a very tight deadline of Jan. 1 of next year, which includes the delivery of municipal services including watermain connection and sanitary sewers.
Amico already has the contract for site grading which is well underway.
The report from Nathan Bokma, senior project manager concludes with, “The amount ($3.9 million) represents good value and staff recommend proceeding with the award of this work. Financing for this project will come from industrial development funding.”
It’s not the first time we have heard of this industrial development funding but where does this source of dollars appear in the city’s budget?
MONEY GROWING ON TREES, PART 2
Monday’s agenda package includes the city’s consolidated financial statements covering 2022.
The following is noted, “During the year ended December 31, 2022, the city purchased a significant parcel of land for $86,000,000 (we have to assume this is the industrial tract for the VW plant and future customers).
“It is anticipated this land will be developed and sold in the future years.”
A bit of a red flag in the next paragraph, however.
“The city is committed to construction of servicing requirements for this land, the cost of which, is not determinable as of the date of the financial statements.”
Following the above land purchase, the city/province grabbed hundreds of more acres from Central Elgin for $115,000,000 according to the consolidated financial statement.
Are we safe in assuming all of this money is coming from the feds and the province?
CHARGE IT
Two weeks ago we wrote of Coun. Lori Baldwin-Sands’ intention to bring forth a motion relating to residential electric vehicle chargers.
Well, it is before council for Monday’s meeting.
Specifically, that a bylaw and other related actions be prepared to require Level 2 electric vehicle
charging-ready parking spaces for new multi-unit residential buildings.
Also, staff prepare options to require Level 2 electric vehicle charging-ready parking spaces for new build, detached housing.
Amid a severe housing/rental crisis, is this the time to be adding to the cost of new homes and apartment units?
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