Seventeen new affordable homes in Antigonish are slated to be ready for tenants this summer according to the Antigonish Affordable Housing Society.
Colleen Cameron, chair of the Board of Directors tells our newsroom they are really excited for this next step of the project on Appleseed Drive and are nearly ahead of schedule.
“We broke ground in October, I think it was, and we are hopeful that we would be open for tenants, August 1. That’s our goal.”
Cameron adds that date could be subject to change depending on how construction goes and any delays that might happen.
“We’re quite pleased with the progress that’s being made. Still, lots of fingers being crossed to see if things are going to be delivered on time. Getting what we need, that kind of thing. That’s mostly the biggest concern, in addition to the weather.”
The units are available in one, two and three bedrooms with some that are upstairs, some have a stair in them and two that are townhouse type units.
There are also four that are barrier free, not just universally accessible.
“There are certain regulations and codes about the widths of the doorways. You have to not only be able to get into a bathroom, but you have to be able to turn your wheelchair around,” Cameron says.
In addition to that, Cameron adds, the lengths and heights of things in the units are also adapted for someone who is in a wheelchair.
Need is still huge
The need for affordable housing is constant.
Cameron says they get phone calls regularly.
“There are a lot of desperate people out there. A woman called…they live in the country. They can’t stay out there anymore. They’re both too old. They need to move in. They need something accessible.”
She says they’ve had a number of similar calls but finding something affordable in town can be a huge challenge.
In the future
Up to another 100 units are in the works but that is something that is years down the road.
Cameron says calls it a “future vision”.
“We’re working on that, and we continue to work on that. Starting to get assessments done, trying to get the land transferred. We have a number of steps that are involved.”
Applications are open for the 17 units available at the Antigonish library, Town Hall, County Offices and the Antigonish Women’s Centre.
