Is there provincial funding available to help turn the old Prescott and Russell Residence building into an affordable housing project?

The United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) council reviewed a document from the provincial report on the application documents for the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI). Champlain Township Mayor Normand Riopel wondered if there might be COCHI funding help available for rebuilding the UCPR’S Portelance Street social housing apartment building in Hawkesbury that was damaged by a fire last November. He also wondered if the UCPR could get COCHI funding help for turning the old Prescott and Russell Residence into a social housing project after the current tenants have relocated to the new Prescott and Russell Residence on Spence Street.

Social Services Director Sylvie Miette told council that restoring the Portelance Street building would not qualify for COCHI because it is too small a project based on the the funding assistance guidelines. The number of housing units available in the building before the fire numbered between eight and ten. She noted that the old PR Residence might be a different case.

“Usually the ministry offers this (COCHI) opportunity once every year,” said Miette, “and usually for ‘shovel-ready’ propositions.”

The deadline for COCHI applications was August 27, but Miette told UCPR council that there are other possible funding aid opportunities that her department can look at. She also noted that during the COVID pandemic there was an analysis done on the feasibility of renovating the PR Residence facility on Cartier Boulevard for use as a social housing project. Miette indicated the original analysis report would need reviewing and revising because it was based on the construction cost estimates that existed at the time when the COVID lockdown had limited or prevented most construction work.