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Port Hope council and Northumberland County are advancing separate initiatives that together add new affordable housing options for local residents.
In Port Hope, council has approved an agreement with Wellings to secure a minimum of five affordable units in a seniors’ independent living development at 60 Henderson Street. The four-storey building, already approved, includes 76 seniors’ apartments and 36 townhouse units. The municipality’s deal formally locks in the affordable spaces, a move council says reflects its commitment to increasing housing diversity. Staff will confirm how meal services or other amenities may apply to the subsidized units. The motion passed unanimously, with two councillors absent.
At the county level, six affordable units are being added this year under Northumberland’s Affordable Housing Capital Grant Program. Three are in Cobourg, two in Brighton and one in Trent Hills. The program, launched in 2021, provides forgivable loans of up to $20,000 per unit and offers in-kind incentives such as development charge or property tax waivers. Most applications so far come from homeowners adding secondary suites to existing properties.
To date, $320,000 has been committed out of $1 million originally set aside for the program. County staff say this is the first year they have seen real momentum in construction and conversion projects. They are also planning a review of the program and considering ways to improve public awareness, such as community meetings or outreach sessions.
Taken together, these initiatives show a coordinated effort by municipal and county governments to increase the supply of affordable housing and keep older adults and lower-income residents living in Northumberland County.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
