Some disappointing news regarding affordable housing in the City.
Mark King, chair of District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board said an application to the Rapid Housing Initiative wasn't successful, which will affect four projects in North Bay, Bonfield and Mattawa.
The body falls under Canadian Mortgage and Housing, and the $1 billion program is designed to create new affordable housing for people and populations who are vulnerable, through the rapid construction of affordable housing.
King called the loss "unfortunate."
"It's my understanding that there were some 1,800 applications. We heard this morning (Thursday) that our applications didn't make the cut so we're back to square one."
King said two separate submissions were made for North Bay and also one housing project for Mattawa and a second one for Bonfield for help with low-income housing projects.
"I was hopeful, to be honest. It looked like we were really there. Unfortunately, we didn't get it and I'm sure there are lots of communities struggling with this situation. We had lobbied hard but obviously, we didn't quite make it."
King says the applications will stay in a queue inside CMHC and he says there is consensus the funding wasn't large enough to meet the need.
"We'll have to see if another announcement is made shortly that might support the process."
King says DNSSAB will work to see if some other options are open to get the projects off the ground. That includes selling the “Walkway” on Main St. W. between Main and Oak. that's expected to bring in $1 million.
"We've been trying to put some money together to leverage that money for geared to income housing. We take this seed money and try to leverage it against grant money to make some of these builds work. It's something the Board will have to look at."
