Construction set to restart on 12-unit transitional housing project in northwest Barrie

Construction is set to restart in May for the 12-unit transitional housing project on Lillian Crescent in the city's northwest end.

The joint project between Redwood Park Communities and Salvation Army Bayside Mission will serve as an important stopping point for families who find themselves struggling and facing a housing crisis.

Currently, noted Redwood Park co-founder and CEO Tim Kent, families are put up in motel rooms, but that solution is not meant to be more than short term.

“That was intended to be an emergency response so that they weren’t on the street,” he told BarrieToday.

The intention was families would be housed in a motel for between 30 and 90 days before being moved into more permanent housing, Kent added. Over the years, due to increasing real estate prices and low rental vacancies in Barrie, he said that move often takes much longer. 

“Living in a motel, sometimes with no cooking facilities, is a very difficult way to try and keep some normalcy within your life. That creates all kinds of other issues around mental health, but also marriage breakdowns, etc.,” he said. “We are creating this new space that is a more appropriate living situation.” 

Along with the fully furnished 12-unit apartments will be a large community space, which Kent said is being included for the purpose of creating and fostering community and connections.

“Our hope is it will give families who’ve experienced some trauma and crisis, and who’ve lost their homes for whatever reason, a really good foundation to be able to jump off from (and) to look at what’s next for their future,” he said.

The two-storey building will be built 151 Lillian Cres., behind the Salvation Army Citadel on Salvation Army-owned land.

“When we first started having conversations with The Barrie Bayside Mission, and talking about how we could support the work they’re doing by building some affordable housing, one of the things was where do we do it?” said Kent.

They had actually started the process of looking at potential sites when the Salvation Army property was mentioned by the previous Salvation Army captain, Kent added. 

“We had meetings with leadership, the congregation and community meetings and ultimately chose to move forward with that site,” he said. “We felt like we had the right location for what we were planning to do. We really wanted a neighbourhood setting.

"And wanted it to be part of a broader neighbourhood and community of people, allowing families to be part of that and integrate into the community that was there… was a big feature for us.”

The units, which Kent said are intended to serve as a much-needed emergency/transitional housing solution, is expected to support around 800 families over the next 20 years.

“Some people look at it and think, what good will 12 units do. ... But in fact (they) will help a lot of families get back on their feet and be able to move forward,” he said, adding the organization is excited to begin moving forward with the build later this spring. 

To date, they have managed to secure $2.4 million in cash and financial pledges toward the initial $3.1-million goal. Unfortunately, due to rising construction costs, Kent anticipates the project will now come in closer to $4.5 million by the time it’s complete.

“In this past year, construction costs have gone through the roof, labour costs have gone up as well and it’s very difficult to get trades right now,” he said. “It has put upwards pressure on the cost of the project … so (the cost is) significantly higher than when we first started planning this project.”

Because of that, Kent said it’s likely they will have to take on some longer-term financing on the project once it’s complete, but in the meantime, are pushing on with the capital campaign to try to raise as many dollars as possible.

“We are moving into the public phase of our capital campaign to raise the remaining $700,000 we need and are looking to the broader community to be part of the whole process and project,” he said.

“I think people are looking for good news for a change and to be part of something that’s positive and exciting in the community," Kent added. "I hope that’s what this would be for the community, one that people will be able to jump on board with and really get behind in a lot of ways, not just financially.”

Every single thing helps, he continued. 

“When you have a whole bunch of people that are donating $25 or $50 it all adds up in a hurry when you can get a huge outpouring of the community in that way and it can quickly become the $700,000 we need.”

Construction at the site began in November 2020 with the installation of site services, but the organization opted to put things on hold over the winter to avoid the additional costs that would have come along with winter construction. 

Kent noted the plan is to begin again in May, adding anything the local trades people or supplies are able to do to support the project would be greatly appreciated. 

“We know it’s been pretty successful year for trades and the construction industry and many are doing well, but the downside to that is most of them are very busy, so it’s difficult to be able to free up a workforce and share some materials… but we are very optimistic,” he said. “We are very excited about this project getting going and I have a lot of confidence many trades and suppliers will come and be part of this community project."

Kent says he's hopeful they will be able to stick close to the original 14-month timeline, in order to have families moving in by the winter of 2022.