Canada and Ontario Providing More Accessible Housing in Thunder Bay                                                                  

June 26, 2023 Thunder Bay — The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario are providing $1.6 million in COCHI funding to help create 14 affordable housing units in Thunder Bay that will support people with disabilities, people dealing with mental health or addictions, and those experiencing homelessness in the community.

This project is part of an investment of over $46 million through the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) to create 267 affordable housing units across the province. COCHI is an initiative of the Canada-Ontario Bilateral Agreement under the National Housing Strategy (NHS).

Representatives from The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board and Northern Linkage Community Housing and Support Services were joined by MP Marcus Powlowski and MPP Kevin Holland for a ground-breaking event on Monday.

Northern Linkage received $1,652,000 in COCHI funding for this initiative. Located at 310 Archibald Street South, the two-storey walk-up apartment complex will contain 14 one-bedroom units. The building will also include 7 accessible units on the main floor, with amenities including street parking and space for accessible vehicles to pick up tenants in the front of the building. The property is located in a central location with amenities nearby including pharmacy, grocery stores, and health and social services.

“I’m proud of our Government’s continued partnership with the Province of Ontario, working towards tackling housing affordability challenges. The 1.6 million dollars in funding through COCHI will greatly support accessible, affordable housing, particularly for the most vulnerable here in Thunder Bay.” – Marcus Powlowski, MP Thunder Bay- Rainy River

“This significant $1.6 Million investment to a new supportive and accessible housing build in Thunder Bay underscores what can be accomplished when all levels of government choose to work together toward a vision of safer, more inclusive communities.  Those who have experienced precarious housing situations deserve the opportunity to live in dignified homes with access to housing and stabilization services.  We can achieve so much more together, and on behalf of our government, thank you to the Government of Canada for their contributions.” – Kevin Holland, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan

“Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. That is why our government is working hard to help more Ontarians find a home that is affordable and meets their needs. I am pleased to see the strong relationships we have built with all levels of government, and we will continue to work hard to tackle Ontario’s housing crisis.” – The Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for Ontario

“On behalf of the Board, I express my profound gratitude to the Federal and Provincial Governments for this joint funding opportunity via COCHI. The investment of $1,652,000 toward 14 accessible, supported housing units will make a tremendous difference in the lives of its future tenants as well as the community at large. There is a great demand for accessible units, and we are so pleased that Northern Linkage has the needs of our community at heart with their vision.” – Ken Boshcoff, TBDSSAB Board Chair

Quick facts

  • The Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) provides funding to repair, regenerate and expand community housing so tenants can live in a home that is affordable. It can also be used to support community housing providers whose original program arrangements are expiring and help them to become more sustainable.
  • The Ontario government invested $1.2 billion in emergency funding under the Social Services Relief Fund to help municipal service managers and Indigenous program administrators respond to COVID-19, create longer-term housing solutions, and help vulnerable people, including those who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
  • Ontario is also investing an additional $202 million each year for the Homelessness Prevention Program and Indigenous Supportive Housing Program – bringing Ontario’s total yearly investment to close to $700 million.
  • The government’s latest housing supply action plan – Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants – is the latest in a series of steps Ontario is taking to increase housing supply and help more people find a home they can afford. For more information on affordable housing, visit ontario.ca/affordablehousing.