Posted By PATRICK BRENNAN TIMES-JOURNALRepresentatives of the City of St. Thomas and the federal and provincial governments celebrated the value of partnerships Monday at the opening of a six-unit affordable-housing project.
"It is about partnerships," stressed Joe Preston, Conservative MP for Elgin-Middlesex-London, at a ceremony at 350 Highview Dr.
"This cannot be done by one level of government alone," he added.
The event brought together city, provincial and federal representatives as well as the project contractor and the Association for Community Living.
The association will represent six tenants who will pay rent based on 80% of the current market value for the apartments.
Tom McCallum, executive director of the Association for Community Living, said the apartments allow the clients to live more independently.
The project received $420,000 in federal housing funding through an extension of the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program.
"I think the city has demonstrated a good working relationship with the County of Elgin," said Liberal Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Steve Peters.
"It's important to build on the partnerships that exist," he noted.
"This would not have been possible unless three levels of government engaged," said St. Thomas Mayor Cliff Barwick.
"This is for people who desperately need affordable housing," he said.
Nick Ostojic, of Ostojic and Sons, the project contractor, said he was very grateful to have the opportunity to complete the undertaking.
"This is an opportunity to help special needs people," he said. "We're very fortunate to have the partners we do."
Elizabeth Sebestyen, social housing administrator for St. Thomas-Elgin Ontario Works, said the building at 350 Highview Dr. represents the eighth project completed for Elgin-St. Thomas under the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program.
