Nearly $16 million in funding has been announced for a mixed-income housing project under construction in Saint John.
The funding for The Wellington comes from all three levels of government and the Rotary Club of Saint John.
“Having access to a safe and affordable housing unit that really meets your needs is key to the overall well-being and health of Canadians,” federal Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen said during Wednesday’s announcement.
The federal government is contributing $11.5 million through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund.
Another $960,000 is coming from the province to construct the units, along with $2.85 million over 20 years in rent supplements.
Saint John is handing out nearly $472,000 in grants while the Rotary Club of Saint John is contributing $150,000 toward The Wellington.
The Wellington will feature 24 affordable one-bedroom units geared toward working-age singles with lower incomes, including people with disabilities. Three of those units will be fully accessible.
Tenants in those units will receive rent supplements from the province, meaning they will not pay more than 30 per cent of their income on housing.
The remaining 23 units will be market-rate, according to the chairperson of Saint John Non Profit Housing, which will own and operate the complex.
“We expect that they’ll start around $1,400 a month and that will include internet and utilities,” said Jillian Jordan.
Four of the units in the building will be used by L’Arche Saint John as part of an independent living pilot project for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Narinder Singh, general manager of Saint John Non Profit Housing, said the pandemic caused project costs to rise by between $1.2 million and $1.5 million.
“You have to keep in mind that this project was developed during the pandemic, so when we started the budget did increase, but based on the revised budget with the reality of the pandemic, we’re on budget right now,” said Singh.
The total revised project cost is $14.7 million, he said. Saint John Non Profit contributed $1.5 million toward the project.
Meanwhile, Jordan said work on The Wellington should be done by the end of March.
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