The City of Kawartha Lakes has received a $1.4-million boost from the provincial government for meeting its target for housing in 2024, by breaking ground on 451 new homes.
As part of its investments in housing-enabling infrastructure, the Ontario government has awarded $1,442,307 to the city through the second round of its “Building Faster Fund,” which provides funding to municipalities that achieve at least 80 per cent of their provincially designated housing targets.
The $1.4 million will go directly towards an affordable housing project currently under construction in Fenelon Falls, said City of Kawartha Lakes Mayor Doug Elmslie during a funding announcement on Monday morning (July 7).
Located at 106 Murray St., the project will see 30 units of affordable housing built and support the efforts of the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Housing Corporation, he noted.
“Today is a great day, for us, and for future Kawartha Lakes residents,” Elmslie said.
“For the second year in a row, we have worked toward our ultimate goal of 6,500 new homes by 2031. We are making strides and doing our part to increase the housing supply in Ontario.”
Elmslie expressed his appreciation for the province, municipal affairs and housing minister Rob Flack (who was represented at the event by his parliamentary assistant Matthew Rae), and Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott.
The affordable housing project in Fenelon Falls is “addressing a vital need in our municipality,” the mayor said.
The Murray Street affordable housing project is a two-storey, 30-unit wood-frame building with 16 one-bedroom units (four of which are barrier free), 12 two-bedroom units, and two three-bedroom units. The building will also feature a laundry room, a common area with a kitchen and service areas, and parking.
“We are committed to ensuring that every new housing development includes a fair share of affordable homes for low-income families,” Elmslie said. “A waitlist of up to 10 years — what some of our residents are facing today — is simply unacceptable. We value our partnerships with other levels of government as we work together to tackle this housing crisis.”
Kawartha Lakes broke ground on 451 new homes in 2024, which works out to 83 per cent of its 2024 housing target. The provincial funding can be used by the municipality to build more homes as well as community infrastructure.
“The Building Faster Fund is a bold, three-year, $1.2-billion initiative designed to accelerate housing development by rewarding municipalities that meet or exceed their provincial housing targets,” said Alexandra Sanita, spokesperson for Ontario’s municipal affairs and housing minister.
“Municipalities know their communities best and with support from the Building Faster Fund, they have the flexibility to invest where it matters most,” she told kawarthaNOW. “This funding can be used to upgrade and expand critical infrastructure such as roads, sidewalks, bridges, and water systems — essential foundations to build our communities.”
“The Building Faster Fund allocations can also be used to support the creation of affordable housing, (including) the construction of modular and factory-built homes, helping to ensure municipalities can build the homes their communities need,” Sanita added.
For the City of Kawartha Lakes, Elmslie said the provincial funding is an investment in the future.
“Together we are building the future of Kawartha Lakes — a future where families and individuals across all walks of life can plant roots, both figuratively and literally,” Elmslie said. “We are a community of communities, and we will thrive together when everyone has a place to call home. We have a long journey ahead to achieve this, but we are committed to staying the course and taking the right steps to get there.”
