Owen Sound Supportive Housing Bought By Grey County (Photo by Nathan Shubert)
A Request For Proposal (RFP) for architectural services has been submitted by Grey County for a property it recent purchased in Owen Sound.
At its Jan. 27 meeting County Council passsed minutes from the Affordable Housing Task Force which included the RFP.
Grey County Director of Housing Anne Marie Shaw says the property at 396 14th Street West was purchased for $1.2 million. The deal closed on Jan. 20. The RFP was when issued the next day on Jan. 21.
The property was purchased for the purpose of making it supportive housing.
County Warden Selwyn Hicks says the property was selected in part because it’s located in Owen Sound, which has a need for supportive housing.
“That particular location is ideal because there are other services nearby that will come in very handy, it is central, it has access to transportation and all of those good things,” says Hicks.
Hicks says they are aware of people who are homeless and who may also have additional needs be it mental health or addiction. He adds these are people who need not just housing but housing with supports.
“Some people need affordable housing, because it is just a financial thing. Other people need housing with supports, meaning they would have affordable housing but with supportive services nearby or supportive services made available to them,” says Hicks.
Hicks says the property will not fall under the category of affordable housing as that type of housing would typically be for residents who are living there for a longer period of time.
“While this will be affordable obviously for the people who need the services, it is more of a supportive housing situation where you are coming in, you are getting better, you are getting that support that you need to get on your own two feet, and to create a plan for your future, and you will have support 24/7 in getting better and creating that plan,” says Hicks.
Shaw says the renovations to the interior of the building will include 12 supportive housing units, as well as space for offices, programming, and community partners.
“There will be a kitchen there if there might be some tenants who would need assistance with daily living skills such as cooking, there could be meeting rooms for people who may want to meet with their worker, whether that is mental health worker or if they have some physical limitations” says Shaw.
Shaw says they are looking at getting first drawings and cost estimates from an architect in April, and the final drawings around the beginning of June. An RFP for a will follow.
Shaw says they are aiming to start the renovations in early summer, with an estimated date for completion set for March 2023.