Affordable Housing Funding Announcement

Almost 4 years ago now the members and leadership at HSP, began an exercise to explore how our assets, including the building and property, could be better utilized to serve our members and our community. This included ideas that could expand our existing programs, such as our well-known Community Cupboard. This program for many years now has served hundreds of families a week during the Fall and Winter seasons, with a snack, pantry items and clothing.

This exploration quickly and decisively led us to Affordable Housing, both as an extension of our existing programs, the huge & growing need in our community, the prime location of our congregation, and the hearts of our members to serve this need. There is a crisis of housing in our region, and it is only increasing. Attaining affordable housing is especially challenging for seniors, with the population aged 65+ expected to more than double in the next 20 years.

We are therefore thrilled to announce that the members of Historic St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church are developing an Affordable Housing Building for Seniors on our property. Our plan is to a construct a new dedicated 6 story structure with 57 affordable housing units, which although covers only a fraction of the need, we believe will be a great blessing to our community.

For over 188 years the corner of Queen Street and Church Street in downtown Kitchener, has been the home of Historic St. Paul’s, serving its members and the community here since 1835. Our Community Cupboard program has provided clothing and food items to those in need for the last decade or so. Today with thanks to CMHC and the Government of Canada, The Province of Ontario, The Region of Waterloo and The City of Kitchener, we are able to serve at the next level, helping those in need of housing. We thank you all again for attending this morning and God Bless.

We were honoured to have MP Bardish Chagger, MP Tim Louis, Associate Housing Minister Rob Flack, Regional Councillor Jim Erb and Mayor Berry Vrbanovic join us for our announcement today.