The federal and provincial governments provided $2.9 million in funding to help build 18 affordable tiny homes in Leamington.
The homes are part of the 50-unit Tiny Home Community Initiative at the Bridge Youth Resource Centre site.
To date, 12 tiny homes have been completed on the property; another 38 are under construction. Of the 18 affordable homes funded by upper levels of government, 12 will be accessible units.
"When we put out an opportunity for applications to be received, we're already above and beyond our capacity when it comes to the program units," said Krista Rempel, Executive Director of The Bridge Youth Resource Centre.
The units will be available for youth, adults, seniors, and low-income individuals or couples.
"I think the impact of these is widely felt," said Rempel. "We have seniors who sold their home, didn't quite understand the market-rate rent at the time, had to live with family in unsafe situations, and we were able to offer that opportunity of housing for them to live with dignity."
Construction is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
"This is an example of collaboration with three levels of government and brilliant minds both from the faith-based community and the community at large to come together to create a template for something that can be used all around Ontario or anywhere else," said Chatham-Kent Leamington MPP Trevor Jones.
The funding comes from the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative.
The Municipality of Leamington also contributed to the project by waiving development charges.
