Latest Indwell housing project transforms lives and preserves heritage

A new apartment project in London’s SoHo neighbourhood will transform an historic property into supportive housing. CTV’s Bryan Bicknell explains.

More Londoners with specialized needs will soon have a place to call home.

Millions of dollars in government funding, as well as public and private donations were announced Monday for the latest project by Christian housing charity, Indwell.

“Highly supportive housing for some people is the first time in a long time that they’ve been able to have a place of their own, go behind a door, sleep in a bed, and have people there who care about their well-being,” said London Mayor Josh Morgan, while speaking at the steps of 346 South Street in London’s Village SoHo.

Morgan was among those on hand as London’s Health and Homelessness Fund for Change announced $4.8 million in capital funding Indwell’s latest highly supportive housing project.

“It’s so fitting that this highly supportive housing project is part of Village SoHo- a larger initiative to ensure everyone has a safe, secure, and affordable place to call home,” said Diane Silva, President and CEO, London Community Foundation (administrator of the Fund for Change).

In addition, an anonymous donor has pledged $1.1 million, with a challenge to the community to match donations. To date, Indwell had already received $2.8 million in pledges and gifts.

“The Fund for Change is spurring on and leveraging investment from all levels of government, and it’s inspiring more of us to dig in to our pockets and donate to a project that’s really going to make a difference,” said Jeff Neven, Indwell CEO.

Built in 1921, the former Western University Medical School was decommissioned more than a decade ago. The new residence will include 96 units for singles, couples, and families, said Neven.

“And now we have an historic shell that’s solid, and we can build apartments inside of that shell. And it’s absolutely stunning. You know the enormously high ceilings would give a beautiful loft feeling and volume to the units and large window spaces, would just create a beautiful living space.”

The building has been prepped and dried out. The actual construction gets underway in the fall of this year, with a two-year construction timeline. It’s expected to be open and welcoming its first tenants by late 2027.