New Village SoHo development offers affordable housing for Londoners struggling with rising rents

Exterior of one of five new apartments in Village SoHo, in London, Ont. (Reta Ismail/CTV News London)

For months, Carrie Hart searched for a place to live that she could afford.

After periods of homelessness, including times when she slept in her car, Hart said rising rental costs made finding stable housing nearly impossible.

“The rents were out of control and there was no way. When you’re bringing in $2,800 a month, you can’t pay $2,400 for rent,” Hart said.

“I was constantly searching for something that is only going to take up maybe half of my pension.”

Today, Hart is among the first tenants moving into Village SoHo, a new mixed-income housing development on the former Victoria Hospital lands that aims to address London’s growing need for affordable housing.

The development will include more than 690 rental apartments, with more than half classified as affordable housing. The remaining units will be rented at market rates.

Village SoHo is a partnership involving six non-profit housing organizations: Chelsea Green Home Society, Homes Unlimited, Indwell, London Affordable Housing Foundation, Residenza Affordable Housing and Zerin Development Corporation.

“When they showed me this apartment, it was just unbelievably beautiful,” Hart said.

Jim Foote, vice-president of Homes Unlimited London Inc., said the mixed-income model is designed to make affordable housing financially sustainable.

“We came together as a group of nonprofits in London and we bought this land,” Foote said.

“On this land we’ve now constructed over 600 units of affordable and market housing.”

Foote said revenue generated from market-rate apartments helps offset the cost of the affordable units while creating a diverse community.

Housing advocates say developments like Village SoHo are an important step in addressing the city’s housing challenges while changing perceptions about affordable housing.

“One of the messages that I really took to heart from Sister Joan Atkinson, who was one of the visionary leaders of Village Soho, is we need to change the messaging around affordable because we all live where we can afford,” said Deb Crowe, co-president of the London Affordable Housing Foundation.

Four of the five residential buildings are now complete and open to tenants. The fifth building, being developed by Residenza Affordable Housing, is expected to open in 2028.

Residents will have an opportunity to tour the new community during a public open house on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring model suites, live music, food trucks, and family activities.