A new affordable housing development planned for Kathleen Avenue will feature one-bedroom units with rent based on the occupant's income.
“It'll actually be a deeper level of affordability than a normal affordable build,” Housing Services Manager Melisa Johnson tells The Journal.
To rent the units, applicants must be on or eligible for the centralized waitlist for housing, which includes specific income and asset requirements.
“But then the rent you pay is based on your income. So it's about 30% of what your gross income is,” adds Johnson.
The building plans include 50 one-bedroom apartments, with 14 of those units supported by The March of Dimes.
“All of the individuals that would reside in those units are persons with permanent physical disabilities, requiring assistance on a daily, regular basis,” explains April Nelmes, Regional Independent Living Manager for The March of Dimes. “It allows people with physical disabilities to live independently in the community.”
An office for The March of Dimes will be located on the first floor of the building, providing 24-hour care for residents requiring assistance.
“We have some clients within the programs that have been with us for over 35 years, who have lived their adult lives in the program receiving what they need, and care is adjusted according to the client's needs and wishes. So, it's a fully integrated lifestyle, allowing them to live with the independence they desire,” says Nelmes.
This planned building will be the organization's fourth similar facility in Sarnia. The March of Dimes also operates a congregate care home and outreach services across the county.
This is the second time Lambton County has partnered with them, and Johnson says it was a natural progression to collaborate on this development.
“When we look at building code, we have to have a certain number of accessible units. So we reached out to March of Dimes to see if they had a need for more units as well. So that's kind of how that came to be,” says Johnson.
A study conducted in 2021 indicated that the county needed 2,500 new affordable housing units to meet community needs. Johnson notes that there are currently around 936 people on the waitlist, 700 of whom are seeking one-bedroom units.
Currently, Kathleen Avenue primarily features family units, including two, three, and four-bedroom apartments. As individuals raise their families and their children move out, they often wish to remain in the neighborhood, especially to stay close to their grandchildren. Johnson emphasizes, “By offering one-bedroom units on Kathleen near all the family sites, it allows individuals to stay in that community.”
A public meeting is set for the city council meeting on November 18 to address a zoning amendment. Once that is approved, Johnson says they hope to break ground in the spring of 2025.
“If we can break ground in the spring, we're looking at about 12 to 18 months of construction. So hopefully summer of 2026 for occupancy,” Johnson adds.
