More highly supportive, deeply affordable housing units coming to London this fall

The city has approved a deal with charity Indwell for 44 deeply affordable, highly supportive housing units, a step toward London's promise to open 100 such apartments by the end of the year. 

City councillors approved the plan for the supportive housing units last week. It will cost about $1.7 million a year to operate the facility, money that will come from the city initially but will eventually receive subsidies from provincial health care and federal homelessness funding. 

The building at 403 Thompson Road in the Glen Cairn neighbourhood will provide 24/7 onsite care that includes mental health, addiction and nursing services, as well as one meal per day, activities and other and housing stability supports for tenants. 

"To be able to transition this site to something that supplies 44 of the 100 highly supportive units that we want to have this year puts us on a really good track to demonstrate to the funding partners that we are 100 per cent serious about moving forward with our plan on an aggressive timeframe and we're willing to shift our approach and our assets to be able to do that," said Mayor Josh Morgan. 

Indwell is the largest developer of the purpose-built, affordable and supportive housing in the province. 

"There's someone in the building, helping with medical support, taking medication, monitoring medical issues," said Julie Ryan, Indwell's community engagement officer. 

"Everyone will get a daily meal, which they can eat together or take to their rooms, and we'll be teaching food security skills, planning, budgeting, connecting with opportunities in the community." 

The building is a four-storey brick building with a common room, laundry room, and indoor bike parking. Three of the 44 units have a barrier-free design that can accommodate a wheelchair. 

Study finds success

A recent study by Western University's Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion looked at the highly supportive housing model at Woodfield Gate, on Dundas Street, also run by Indwell. 

It found that having a network of supports available for people moving from homelessness to being housed is essential for success. 

"Permanent supportive housing is acknowledged as the critical tool for ending homelessness for people with complex needs," said Steven Rolfe, director of health partnerships at Indwell. "This research affirms the value of supportive housing and the need to create pathways to produce more."

The report found that supportive housing's emphasis on checking in with residents, on-site health and social supports and meal programs improved people's health and helped them stay housed. 

"What differentiates housing for the most vulnerable and marginalized is the support piece. That's what was missing that created their homelessness, and that's what's needed to end their homelessness," said Abe Oudshoorn, one of the study's authors and a nurse who has worked with homeless people in London for years. 

The residents interviewed for the study said affordability, a sense of community, and the supports they got — including daily access to food —  were three key pieces for helping them stay off the streets. 

The study also notes that there's no clear funding for non-profit housing providers such as Indwell to access as part of the National Housing Strategy, a shortcoming that must be addressed in the coming years.