After a hiatus of nearly six years, the City of St. Thomas is reviving the St. Thomas-Elgin Affordable Homeownership Program (AHP), originally launched in 2007.
The AHP was designed to assist low-to moderate-income households in purchasing their first home.
This AHP was originally funded as a one-time allocation under the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program.
It is worth noting that since its inception, 46 households have successfully achieved homeownership through the initiative.
So, how does the program operate?
In her report to council at the April 20 meeting, Ellen Hickey, Supervisor of Housing Stability Services, explained, “AHP provides down payment assistance in the form of an interest-free, forgivable loan over a 20-year period to help eligible St Thomas-Elgin households transition from renting to home ownership.
“Approved properties that are sold within the 20-year forgiveness period are required to repay the original loan and a portion of their capital gains. These repayments help to sustain the program as a revolving fund, ensuring that future eligible households may also benefit from AHP.”
The initiative was suspended in 2020 due to significant inflation in local housing prices that outpaced the AHP guidelines.
Hickey pointed out that updated limits reflect current housing market conditions and provincial program requirements while continuing to support attainable homeownership within the community.
During Monday’s meeting, Mayor Joe Preston observed, “This is great to have it back. We’ve been very successful at attracting home ownership by partnering with first-time buyers and with good, solid rules that go along with it.
“I’m happy to see it back as another step to work toward home ownership in our community.”
Hickey indicated the hope is to approve approximately 10 applications.
The AHP is to be relaunched next month.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for down payment assistance, applicants must meet the following criteria:
You must be at least 18 years old.
You must be a legal resident of Canada
You must be a first-time home buyer.
You must qualify to obtain a mortgage.
You must not currently own a home or a residential property, in whole or in part, including recreation or cottage property.
Cannot be living in a spousal relationship with a person who owns, in whole or in part, a residential property, including recreation or cottage property.
You must be a renter residing in St Thomas or Elgin County (verification required).
You agree not to lease the home and to occupy it as your primary residence for the entire duration of the loan. Failure to do so will be considered a default under the terms of the loan agreement.
You must not owe arrears to a Social Housing Provider.
Eligible purchasers receiving down payment assistance must sign a loan agreement with the City of St. Thomas and provide all requested documentation.
Maximum Assistance Levels
The maximum amount of down payment assistance is 5 per cent of the purchase price up to a maximum of $25,000, and will be provided at the time of the closing date.
Your total household income before deductions must be less than $113,900 for individuals and $135,000 for families consisting of two or more people.
Your total household assets must be below $50,000.
THE LAST CALL FOR CITY CLERK MARIA KONEFAL
She made the announcement back in February, and the council meeting this past Monday (April 20) was the final session for City Clerk Maria Konefal.
She officially retires May 1, closing out a nearly four-decade career at city hall. That’s her at work on Monday, to the left of CAO Lisa Higgs in the photo below.
As members wrapped up business for the evening, Mayor Joe Preston observed, “I know this has been a long time coming, and I don’t know whether Maria could actually tell us how many council meetings she has sat in that chair.”
Preston continued, “And so I wanted to recognize someone who’s been such a huge help. Certainly, to a new mayor eight years ago who thought all things were possible from this chair till the clerk turns around and stares you down in the middle of what you’re saying.
“It’s been such a great relationship we’ve had, and I know how much work she and her department do on behalf of this council to keep us legislatively sound and straight procedurally under the Ontario Municipal Act.
“But on top of all that, what a great person. Someone who’s been able to babysit us through times when she shouldn’t have had to.
“A little scolding at times when that’s exactly what we all needed.
“Maria, you started here when you were only eight, because that’s the only way your age works out to retirement now. So, thank you for being here that long and helping all of us through everything we’ve had to do.
“The city of St. Thomas is forever grateful for all the things that no one will ever notice that you got done for us, right?
“But we know, and we thank you.”
Back in February, Maria welcomed us into her city hall office for a lengthy conversation on those four decades of valuable service to the City of St. Thomas.
We’ll bring you that reminiscence next week in this corner.
On a personal note, I still recall the days and days of waiting in anticipation of Maria agreeing to a very rare interview.
All worth it, in the end.
CENTRAL ELGIN APPROVES HOSPITAL LANDS OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT
In a significant long-term planning milestone, the Municipality of Central Elgin council at Monday’s (April 20) meeting approved the Hospital Lands Official Plan Amendment.
The move establishes a policy framework to guide future development of the 370 acres of land that housed the former St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital.
It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Central Elgin, stressed Mayor Andrew Sloan.
In a media release, Sloan noted, “This is the only time in our municipality’s history that we have been able to plan an entirely new community of this scale. This project is about more than accommodating growth and financial stability; it provides the opportunity to support a broader range of housing options, including affordable, accessible, and mixed-use development.”
The release noted that the amendment “provides a comprehensive and implementable policy framework to guide this long-term development of the hospital lands.”
Rob Flack, Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP and the province’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, added, “By establishing a clear vision for the hospital lands, the municipality is creating the conditions to support the diverse mix of housing, attract investment and build a complete community with the services and infrastructure people need to thrive both today and in the years ahead.”
At Monday’s meeting, members of council also endorsed the preferred water and wastewater servicing strategies identified in the Hospital Lands Feasibility Study.
The municipality will now submit the amendment to Elgin County council for approval.
In the meantime, a Request for Proposals process to identify potential development partners closes May 4 at 2 p.m.
THE FEAR OF BEING MURDERED BECAUSE ONE IS A WOMAN
At the invitation of Elgin-St. Thomas-London South MP Andrew Lawton, Liz Brown, Executive Director of Valora Place in St. Thomas, travelled to Ottawa this week to testify before the Justice Committee on Bill C-16.
Introduced late last year, Bill C-16, the Protecting Victims Act, proposes significant Criminal Code amendments to combat gender-based violence, protect children, and strengthen victims’ rights.
Brown presented on the unique intimate partner violence risks faced by women in rural communities.
She referenced the lack of reliable cell phone service in some areas of Elgin County, and “There is profound isolation, there is no public transportation, there is not a neighbour who hears your calls for help.
“There is not a person who observes that you haven’t left the house. There isn’t another person who sees that your partner has harmed your livestock, the foundation of your farm.
“It is very difficult to be seen in rural communities, very difficult to have access to services, and to be heard, to be able to be supported and helped. It’s a real issue.”
Lawton asked Brown for her opinion on how legislation could better reach women in rural communities who face additional challenges.
Brown referred to the importance of public education.
“So it happens by being able to gather together. It happens by being able to talk about what has happened in our lives and be able to discuss the reality of harm in confidential and private ways.
“To be able to do that, you have to know who you can call. You have to be able to access that location or multiple locations. And, you have to know what happened to you isn’t because you’re crazy.
“You may feel crazy as a result of the harm, but you’re not. And you need to be believed from the point of the very first person who hears you.”
Lawton referenced the need for harmonization between the various levels of government because “a lot of the time, not all of these levels are rowing in the same direction.”
“And it is so different the risk and fear for being murdered because one is a woman.”
To which Brown observed, “Yes, and I don’t anticipate rowing in the same direction, to be honest. I anticipate there will be difference of opinion, that there will be challenges and also the possibility of seeing it differently at a municipal level, a provincial level and national level.
“I think the national level sets the tone. If femicide is included in the legislation, which I admit I couldn’t find the actual word, and I did look for it a lot. If it’s included in the legislation, it names the reality of the gender-based fact of harm against women.
“This sends an important message to our municipal and our provincial partners about how fundamentally essential it is to recognize and be really clear about its importance to address.
“I think there’s lots of opportunity across politics and across political parties, because everyone holds a heart and a desire to show up to make this corner of the world better.
“And so I really believe there’s an opportunity for nonpartisan participation. We exist as a result of work by NDP, Liberal and Conservative governments that have made it possible to support thousands of women each and every year.
“I think it creates more possibility than challenge.”
Lawton picked up on Brown’s reference to femicide and asked her thoughts on navigating or engaging with the term.
“I think clarity is important,” stressed Brown. “I think to have the definition right in the bill is important. It is women being killed as a result of being women.
“So, to be really clear about what that means, it can’t be distilled. There have been a number of presentations to the committee by a number of legal groups, the National Association of Lawyers and the Legal Action Fund, who have been very clear about the wording that can be used to encapsulate that.
“When it’s that clear, it names the gendered reality of harm. It makes it abundantly clear for federal, provincial, and municipal governments.”
Lawton closed by noting, “Someone could be victimized by intimate partner violence regardless of whether they’re a woman or a man. We know that women are disproportionately the victims here. Do you think that distinction is necessary?”
“Yes,” stressed Brown, “because femicide is different than murder, generally, in that there are more women being murdered in intimate relationships than there are people who identify as male.
“That’s statistically founded in what the federal government has shared through Stats Canada repeatedly.
“And it is so different the risk and fear for being murdered because one is a woman.”
A REMINDER
If you have given thought to running for mayor or a seat on municipal council, the city is offering a free candidate information session to point you in the right direction.
The session will take place on April 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Carnegie Room at the St. Thomas Public Library.
It will begin with a presentation from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, followed by a Q&A with election administrators.
For those unable to attend in person, the session will also be available through Zoom at the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84431011977
Regular updates on the 2026 municipal election and access to election resources will be available on the city hall website: https://www.stthomas.ca/
And, as candidates file their nomination papers, we will profile each one in this corner.
Questions and comments may be emailed to City Scope
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And a reminder, I can be heard weekday afternoons as news anchor and reporter on 94.1 myFM in St. Thomas. As always, your comments and input are appreciated.
