With more than 372 rent-geared-to-income (RGI) and market rental housing units in its portfolio, the Northumberland County Housing Corporation (NCHC) will have additional help managing its tasks at hand with the addition of two new board members.
Northumberland County council recently approved the appointment of two new citizen board members, Daphne Livingstone and Molly Anthony, to the NCHC board. Described as a skills-based board, the NCHC board oversees operations related to NCHC’s housing units and is involved in housing development initiatives across Northumberland County.
Both appointees “bring a wealth of experience and a shared passion for supporting the NCHC’s mission to provide safe and affordable housing for the community,” noted a media release from the county.
“We are excited to have Daphne and Molly join the NCHC board of directors,” said NCHC board chair Victor Fiume. “Their diverse expertise in municipal governance and real estate will be a tremendous asset to the board as we work towards achieving our strategic goals to create a stronger, more resilient community.”
Livingstone is the director of corporate services and municipal clerk for the Township of Hamilton. With 25 years of experience working in both large and small municipalities across Ontario, she has developed “extensive” knowledge of governance and service delivery at both lower and upper-tier levels. Her education includes a Master’s certificate in municipal leadership, and she is a certified municipal officer.
Livingstone “is deeply committed to the initiatives of the NCHC, understanding the vital role it plays in creating a sense of community for individuals and families experiencing housing insecurity,” the release noted.
Anthony, who moved to Northumberland County with her family in 2019, is currently the director of real estate at Toronto Metropolitan University. She has a broad range of experience, including master planning, opportunity analysis, transactions, operational integration, and asset management.
Anthony “is enthusiastic about her new role with the NCHC, seeing stable housing as a fundamental element of healthy communities and supporting the organizations’ role to build and maintain safe and affordable rental housing where people feel at home.”
The additions to the NCHC board reflect the county’s commitment to strengthen its leadership and continue its work to address housing needs within the community, the release noted.
“County council is pleased to approve the addition of (Livingstone and Anthony) to the NCHC board of directors,” said Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander.
“They are joining the board at a critical time, as the NCHC advances several affordable housing projects that will significantly benefit our community. Their extensive experience will be invaluable in strengthening the board’s capacity to guide these important initiatives. I am confident that their contributions will help the NCHC continue to build a more inclusive and supportive environment for all residents of Northumberland County.”
Northumberland County is the sole shareholder of the NCHC and gives direction to its board of directors, which is comprised of county council representatives, the chief administrative officer of Northumberland County, and citizen directors. The board is responsible for the budget, upholding corporate by-laws, agreements, and reports, and for long-range strategic planning.
The NCHC board has been active this past summer.
In August, Northumberland County council reviewed a proposal for the expansion of affordable housing at 123 King St. E. in Colborne. The county, in partnership with the NCHC, purchased the King Street East property in 2023, when it came up for sale, “to preserve the local stock of deeply affordable housing in Colborne” according to the county.
The redevelopment proposal is for construction of up to 60 units at this location — 38 more than currently onsite. The new units are slated to be a mix of RGI and market rent housing, serving individuals with low to moderate incomes.
Also this summer, council heard that progress is continuing on renovations and plans to relocate and modernize shelter services at 310 Division St. in Cobourg. The county, in partnership with Transition House Coalition, “continues to expedite work to open this facility by early fall to better serve those who are unhoused in our community.
“Although the shelter was initially set to be operational by the spring, reconstruction was paused while council considered feedback on ownership structures for the facility,” the county noted.
The purchase was made considering current shelter services, located at 10 Chapel St. in Cobourg, no longer meet the community’s needs, the county said. The relocation to 310 Division St. is intended to enable modernized services, including a warming/cooling drop-in space, private accommodations, transitional housing, collaborative partnerships, and wrap-around supports.
In Northumberland, like elsewhere, demand for affordable housing continues to surge. The county said it will focus on working with member municipalities this year to develop a land bank of shovel-ready projects.
