$6M deal with Habitat for Humanity will keep dozens of cost-effective homes affordable for decades in Brampton

Dozens of family homes getting more than $6 million in funding in Brampton will stay affordable for future owners under a new deal between the city and Habitat for Humanity.

In November the city approved $6,057,839 in funding to build 27 new affordable housing units with Habitat for Humanity planning a pair of stacked back-to-back townhouse developments at 25 William Street and 1425 Countryside Drive in Brampton.

Habitat for Humanity says the units will be family-sized homes, and a contribution agreement between Brampton and the charity will ensure the new cost-effective units will stay affordable “for a period of not less than 25 years,” a report reads.

“Homes will remain affordable from one homeowner to the next,” reads a report from Habitat from Humanity. “Any exceptions will be brought to Brampton staff for approval. In all cases the Brampton subsidy will be retained for affordable housing.”

Once completed, the units at 25 William Street would be three- or four-bedroom, two-bathroom suites with between 1,380 and 1,530 square feet of living space. Habitat said many applicants are already approved for the William Street development while the Countryside Drive development is still in the planning stages.

A planned Habitat for Humanity affordable housing project at 1425 Countryside Drive in Brampton. Photo: Habitat for Humanity

A planned Habitat for Humanity development at 25 Williams Street in Brampton is at risk of being cancelled without additional funding. (Photo: Habitat for Humanity)

The funding comes through the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund which gave Brampton more than $114 million to kick-start housing projects in the city, and part of the deal includes a request from Brampton City Council that current residents and families in Brampton are given priority when moving into the new developments.

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Income eligibility for applicants is based on the province’s new definition of affordable housing, which for a three-bedroom unit is for households at or below the 60th percentile income.

Brampton city staff worked with Habitat on a marketing plan to geo-target local residents, but the agreement does authorize the city to make exemptions on a case-by-case basis, like in the case of former residents looking to move back home.

The city will be waiving its development charges for the pair of projects, which will be covered by the more than $6 million provided by the feds. Any unused funds will be returned to the City of Brampton, according to the agreement.

Construction on both developments is set to begin this year with homes anticipated to be ready for move-in by the end of 2025.

Other Brampton projects funded through the federal Housing Accelerator Program include $18 million for a 150-unit affordable housing development and $300,000 in funding to Armagh House – a non-profit group with a focus on transitional supportive housing for women and families.

For more information on the 25 Williams Street development and Habitat for Humanity projects visit www.habitatgta.ca.