Stratford opens affordable housing applications for new building on Britannia Street

Stratford has opened up the application process for units in the second phase of its affordable housing project on Britannia Street.

“We are pleased to see this project come to completion and that there will be 27 more affordable housing units available within our community,” Kim McElroy, Stratford’s director of social services, said in a news release..

Applications are available on the city’s website. Once submitted, officials said, they’ll be reviewed for eligibility and selected on a chronological basis.

The apartment units at 80 per cent of the average market rate are expected to be available to successful applicants in June.

Here’s a per-month rent breakdown by unit type and their qualifying income levels (rates do not include hydro, internet, television, or laundry services):

One bedroom: $1,002. Qualifying income: $33,960 – $47,568
Two bedrooms: $1,190. Qualifying income: $39,999 – $54,576

Construction on the second phase of the Britannia Street affordable housing project began this month. The $9.7-million addition includes 27 more one- and two-bedroom apartments directly adjacent to 35 units in the first building built in 2019 for $4.5 million.

Like many places in Ontario, rent has been rising in Stratford. According to figures compiled by United Way Perth-Huron’s Social Research and Planning Councilthe average rent of a one-bedroom apartment in Stratford was $947 per month in December 2021.

Because rental rates in the area are already quite high, many on social media have criticized the Britannia Street project as not truly being affordable for everyone, while others are pushing for rental rates to be geared to the income of those who will live there.

McElroy told the Beacon Herald this month the Britannia Street apartments will represent an important rung in the city’s housing ladder.

“If we look at the continuous spectrum for housing, it will ideally allow for people to move from one place up the spectrum,” she said. “You may see people move out of (rent-geared-to-income) affordable housing, which then will free up that housing, so that’s what we’re looking for, and it’s a starting place for some families as well that just need to be able to afford it with the income they’re earning.”

Six of the second building’s new units will be accessible, officials have said. The building will also contain storage lockers and scooter storage, a community lounge, and a community garden.

Questions about the application process can be sent to [email protected].