County ready to open Leeward House for transitional housing

The municipality held a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, April 2 for Leeward House, a transitional housing facility. Participants, from left, included: Adam Bramburger, representing MPP Todd Smith, Elis Ziegler, Affordable Housing Supervisor, Lynn Chenier, Director of Prince Edward – Lennox and Addington Social Services (PELASS), Assaf Weisz, Base31 Chief Placemaking Officer, Mayor Steve Ferguson, Scott Robertson, Manager of Social Services, PELASS, Kathryn Randall, vice-president of Development & Planning, Rockport Group and Tricia Richens, Transitional Housing Coordinator, County of Prince Edward.

The County is preparing to welcome nine residents to the new Leeward House transitional housing facility later this month.

During a ribbon cutting April 2, Mayor Steve Ferguson said the home “marks a significant move forward for the municipality and its residents.

“This welcoming environment will ensure a safe and supportive space for people experiencing homelessness and help reduce pressures on emergency and community services.”

Ferguson thanked municipal staff for hard work and the commitment of partners.

Leeward House, located at 1133 County Road 5 in Sophiasburgh ward, is the first transitional housing facility of its kind in Prince Edward County.

It is planned for nine people to be moved directly from homelessness to a supported congregate living environment with on-site staff. Residents will receive programs, services and supports to move toward permanent, sustainable housing.

The facility formerly operated as The Maples retirement home. It was purchased by Base31 and the municipality will enter into a 25-year lease to operate the transitional housing facility.

The five current tenants at The Maples have been supported by County staff and the owners of the retirement home to move to other housing.

Staffing costs and operating expenses for the facility are to be covered by funds that the government of Ontario provides to Prince Edward – Lennox and Addington Social Services (PELASS) through the Homelessness Prevention Program. The municipality will pay the annual lease for the facility through a combination of PELASS funding and residents’ rent.

At a committee of the whole meeting in January, council learned the municipality applied for, and was successful, in securing two streams, one for housing access and stabilization, and one for transitional housing.

“The first stream is for $72,000 approximately to provide services to County resident tenants and property owners with a range of supports to find and keep housing and prevent evictions, and we plan to do this through establishing a housing registry of all available units,” explained Elis Ziegler, affordable housing supervisor with the Prince Edward County Affordable Housing Corporation.

The transitional housing stream is approximately $125,000 and will be used for program funds for Leeward House, for staffing on-site, rental supplements, on-site wrap-around case co-ordination, where the intention is to provide a congregate, therapeutic, rehabilitative setting.

Ziegler confirmed that other than Kate’s Rest, the closest other facility is in Belleville, with a shelter in Napanee, saying there is “nothing of this kind, designed as it is”.

The Maples Retirement Residence was on the market for a time last year, where the nine-bedroom home with a near million dollar price tag failed to secure a buyer.

It was named “Leeward House” to reflect both the sheltering and protection aspects for a person experiencing homelessness, and in recognition of the natural forces of wind and water so prevalent for County residents, Ziegler told council.

For more information about Leeward House, contact Elis Ziegler, Affordable Housing Supervisor, by email at eziegler@pecounty.on.ca or call 613-922-3785.