County Of Huron Continues To Develop More Affordable Housing

by Bob Montgomery

The County of Huron is taking proactive measures to address the issue of affordable housing in the County.

The latest development of affordable housing units is a 20-unit apartment building on Sanders Street in Exeter, and it is set to be completed and ready for occupancy before the end of this year. Huron County Warden Glen McNeil says this apartment building has been constructed on an existing county housing site, with funding partially provided by the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative.

McNeil adds county staff should be commended for their efforts in working hard to increase the availability of affordable housing throughout Huron County as well as addressing the issue of homelessness. "Staff, alongside Council, have been working incredibly hard to secure funding, manage construction, and prepare this building for occupation. And one of the priorities that Huron County has is that we build high performance buildings that prioritize efficiency, as this building does.”

The design of the building was done by JPM Architecture Inc., formerly Allan Avis Architects, of Goderich, and it adheres to the County's High Performance Building Standard. This standard prioritizes efficiency, resiliency in product choice, and sustainability in new builds. The apartment building will feature multiple barrier-free units, including 5-inch turning radiuses, roll under sinks, pull-down shelves, and flush balcony thresholds. The construction materials selected for the development are durable and practical, ensuring that the property can be appropriately maintained with minimal replacement requirements in the future.

To learn more about County of Huron affordable housing options, including applications for tenancy, please visit: www.HuronCounty.ca/housing.

To learn more about the County of Huron's commitment to developing more affordable housing in Huron, please visit: www.connectedcountyofhuron.ca/developing-more-affordable-homes-in-huron.

Glen McNeil - Warden, Huron County