It is being heralded as more than just housing, it’s a new beginning.
At a groundbreaking ceremony Monday morning, the first steps are being taken to transform a brownfield site into affordable, supportive housing units at 21 Kains Street.
Project Tiny Hope is a partnership with the YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin, Doug Tarry Homes and Sanctuary Homes and close to 100 people were welcomed to the site by YWCA executive director Lindsay Rice.
Rice stresses safe and stable housing is the foundation of a healthy and vibrant community.
The impetus for an ambitious plan to construct net zero, affordable tiny homes offering a big vision came in the form of a challenge for St. Thomas homebuilder Doug Tarry.
Tarry explains the challenge.
The brownfield site will accommodate 40 tiny homes, a program house, play areas resident gardens and green space. The first 10 residents are scheduled to move in by the end of next year.
We’re ready to break ground and we want our community to share in this milestone with us.
That was the open invitation from Lindsay Rice, for Monday’s ceremony.
She calls it a moment that will mean so much to so many in the near future. A sentiment echoed by St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston at the brownfield site.
Rice adds the ceremony is really a landmark moment for Project Tiny Hope.
She stresses there is a desperate need for affordable housing in St. Thomas and Elgin county.
Rice advises they are awaiting word on federal funding, with an announcement expected in mid-June.
