Government investment of tax dollars supports repair of 400 municipally-owned homes in Cornwall & SDG

$6.7 million in funding from the municipal and federal governments

An investment of $6.7 million for the repair of 400 municipally-owned homes in Cornwall and the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry (SDG) was announced last week. The project is a partnership between the City of Cornwall and the Government of Canada.

According to the July 25 announcement, the project funding “underscores a shared commitment to enhancing the quality of affordable housing for residents.”

A minimum of 120 of the 400 homes will “remain affordable, with more than 30% dedicated to women and their children.” As well, the project aims to “achieve a minimum 25% reduction in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a more sustainable community.”

The city will provide $4.7 million towards the work, while the federal government, through the Affordable Housing Fund, will contribute $2 taxpayer dollars.

The project announcement lists the following items to be completed by winter 2027:

• Replacing the aging, conventional gas hot water heating system with high-efficiency tankless water heaters at a 45-unit property in SDG.

• Provide heat pumps to replace forced-air, gas furnaces at up to six (6) family housing communities located in the City of Cornwall and SDG.

• Convert gas-fired hot water tanks at 195 family housing units, throughout the City of Cornwall and SDG, with high-efficiency tankless water heaters

• An accessibility of audit of key senior housing properties to guide aging at home improvements for a minimum of 80 units of seniors housing located in the City of Cornwall and SDG.

Cornwall’s mayor, Justin Towndale, said, “As we work to continue to provide housing for all, we welcome this investment by the federal government. Continued investment into our municipal housing portfolio within the City of Cornwall and SDG will mean that hundreds of residents will have access to a safe and affordable place to call home.”

“While increasing the number of adequate and affordable housing units available across Cornwall and SDG is crucial to our work, so too is maintaining the housing infrastructure that we currently have. We thank the federal government for their collaboration with this maintenance stream”, said General Manager of Human Services and Long-Term Care Mellissa Morgan. 

~ content adapted from City of Cornwall press release