City Council to Consider Adding 16 Modular Units At Wolfe Street Bridge Housing Community

City Council will consider adding up to 16 modular units at the Modular Bridge Housing Community on Wolfe Street following Monday’s meeting.

File Photo.

The decision is subject to the successful approval of the City's Encampment Response Initiative application and/or the Last Mile Funding from the Province.

The City of Peterborough is applying for two provincial funding programs, the Encampment Response Initiative and the Last Mile Funding Program, to address homelessness and expand housing capacity according to a press release.

On Dec. 13, the City received a notification from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) regarding two newly announced funding programs to address homelessness and support housing initiatives. These programs, the Encampment Response Initiative and the Last Mile Funding Program have business case submission deadlines of Jan. 3 and Jan. 10, respectively.

The need for shelter options for people experiencing homelessness is continuing to increase in the community, says the City. With the new provincial funding programs, provincial funding is likely to cover the expansion cost at Wolfe Street.

The Encampment Response Initiative funds municipalities to expand shelter capacity and develop temporary accommodations for encampment individuals. Eligible uses of this funding include constructing temporary structures such as tiny cabins and sprung shelters, covering operational costs for shelters, and remediating encampment sites. The goal is to provide accessible and urgent housing solutions while restoring encampment sites to safe and usable conditions.

The Last Mile Funding Program is designed to accelerate the completion of near-ready affordable housing projects. It prioritizes projects demonstrating value for money and aligning with the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) guidelines. To qualify, projects must be commitment-ready, with signed contribution agreements within the fiscal year, and shovel-ready, with construction commencing within 120 days of the agreement signing.

Both programs emphasize accountability, requiring municipalities to demonstrate a clear strategy for addressing homelessness, fostering partnerships, and providing regular progress reports. These initiatives are aligned with provincial objectives to ensure safe and stable housing while improving public safety.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.