The Mayor of London says there is no doubt that an affordable housing project slated to be built on Baseline Road will save lives.
Ed Holder made the comment Wednesday as MPs Kate Young and Peter Fragiskatos discussed the $7.5-million in federal funding for the project, which will see 61 units built at 122 Baseline Road West. The lot, which currently sits empty, is a few blocks west of Wharncliffe Road.
"Simply put — this funding, and this project, will save lives and ultimately improve the lives of those who come to occupy these desperately needed units," said Mayor Holder "Supporting London's most vulnerable is a cause to which our municipal Council is fiercely committed having allocated $70-million towards affordable housing and related supports in our multi-year budget, the largest investment of its kind by a London City Council in recent memory. No municipality can do it alone, however, and so we are exceptionally grateful that our commitment to this vital work is shared with equal enthusiasm by the Government of Canada.”
The units will be part of an apartment building that will focus on housing priority and vulnerable populations in the city. It's expected construction will begin in the spring and be completed by the end of 2021.
"London is in urgent need of safe and affordable housing for our most vulnerable citizens," said Young. "The Government of Canada and the City of London have been working in lockstep to quickly identify projects and deliver the dollars necessary to address this local crisis. Today’s announcement means necessary shelter is on its way for those Londoners who need it most.”
