New housing project aims to ease London’s homelessness crisis

CTV’s Lauren Stallone with the grand opening of the Coves Landing supportive housing facility for Londoners experiencing homelessness.

50 Londoners will now have a new place to call home.

“I can’t tell you how excited we are to see these 50 highly supportive housing units added to the supply that we have here in London,” said Peggy Sattler, MPP for London West.

Hundreds gathered at 46 Elmwood Place Thursday afternoon to celebrate the grand opening of a new affordable housing project.

The building, once a long-term care home, is now called “Coves Landing.”

Natasha Thuemler, executive director of Indwell, a Christian charity that creates affordable housing, said they are working to “alleviate” system pressures.

“By working with the local coordinated system access hubs and hospital partners we re-establish the system flow,” said Thuemler. “People who have benefitted from those systems can now continue their journeys here.”

Government officials said this project will help address the homelessness crisis that continues in London.

“We know that there is a dire shortage of supportive housing, highly supportive housing across the province, and right here in this community,” said Sattler.

Mayor Josh Morgan was also in attendance.

“Homelessness is the most complex, most challenging issue that we have to deal with as a city,” said Morgan. “We believe we can take steps towards solutions and although there are many steps to go, there are few communities in this country that have taken the steps this city has.”

The project was funded through a contribution from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, a grant from the Health and Homelessness Fund for Change, and a contribution from the city of London.

“It really takes these funding sources to make a positive change, and we appreciate that true public private partnership,” said Diane Silva, president and CEO of London Community Foundation. “We would love to see more of this because that’s when you see how quickly things can move.”

The facility will start welcoming residents in the next couple of days and offer 24-hour on-site presence, as well as access to professional health support services.