Single-family home in Gravenhurst to be converted.
Community Living South Muskoka may be able to expand its residential services soon.
The charity, which supports people living with developmental disabilities and their families, has nine group homes across Muskoka. These homes are staff-supported and provide up to 24-hour support.
During the District of Muskoka’s Oct. 20 community and planning services meeting, the committee heard about the organization’s plans to renovate a home at 845 Muskoka Beach Rd. in Gravenhurst to create six separate affordable living spaces.
Here is what we know about the project.
PROCESS
In August, the district posted an expression of interest seeking private and non-profit partnerships for the construction of affordable rental housing units.
The expression of interest included funding up to $1.5 million, consisting of district, provincial and federal funding. The provincial/federal portion comes from the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI), while the larger portion comes from the district’s Muskoka Affordable Housing Initiatives Program.
APPLICATION
Community Living applied and qualifies for the OPHI funding to help convert the single-family home on Muskoka Beach Road into a supportive-living environment.
RENOVATIONS
The project will consist of:
• Rebuilding the existing attached garage into two fully accessible bedrooms with a shared accessible bathroom.
• An egress window built into the bottom floor of the side split, allowing for a living area for one person including a private bath.
• A stairlift to provide access to the upper three rooms of the side split, where 1.5 bathrooms will be shared.
• A fire safety plan with B3 sprinkler installation.
• An accessible ramp designed to allow access into the building and the home.
The district had not received applications from private organizations for affordable housing through the district’s funding portion by the deadline, so it will continue to seek opportunities to use these funds.
COMMITTEE VOTE
The district committee voted in favour of identifying Community Living as the successful proponent of the funding. The district will enter into an agreement for $332,160 in OPHI funding for the six affordable rental units.
The proposal will be sent to the Ontario government for approval in order to receive the funding.
Sarah Law – Gravenhurst Banner – Wednesday, October 26, 2022