‘This is the crisis of our times’: $5 million donation to help create 115 supportive housing units in London

Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley receives $5M for new 115 highly supportive apartments, CTV London's Brent Lale has the details.

The Health and Homelessness Fund for Change has announced $5 million in capital funding to Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services (CMHA TVAMHS) to help create 115 new highly supportive housing apartments.

The donation will help create units at Hill Street near Wellington Street and Huron Street near Adelaide Street.

“The housing that’s going to happen is taking 115 people off the streets into permanent housing with the right supports that they need,” said Diane Silva, CEO of the London Community Foundation which stewards the $25 million commitment from a London family who wishes to remain anonymous.

“That’s what’s really lacking in this point in time. It’s incredible because this is the right type of housing for vulnerable people that have been homeless for a long time.”

The $5 million Fund for Change will support two projects.

The first will be The Hills (248-254 Hill St.) which will be a mid-sized, four-storey apartment building with 33 one-bedroom units. Seven of those units, as well as all indoor and outdoor common areas will be fully accessible.

The second will be at 644-646 Huron St., which will also be a mid-sized, seven-storey apartment building. The building will house 82 units comprised of 27 studio, 28 one-bedroom, and 27 two-bedroom units, with 17 of those units and all common areas being accessible.

“We’re tearing down to build up,” said VP of Supportive Housing and Program Development at CMHA TVAMHS Dean Astolfi.

“We’ve got 33 units on Hill Street and 82 units on Huron Street. The one on Huron Street is unique because it’s right beside our 24-hour-crisis centre. We’ve got supports right in close proximity as well as the other supports that we’re attaching to these buildings.”

CMHA TVAMHS said 406 highly supportive housing units are open, in development, or included in endorsed proposals that are seeking funding— marking significant progress towards the creation of 600 units over three years.

“This project is a game changer,” said Kevin Dickins, co-chair of the strategy and accountability table for the Whole of Community System Response to Health and Homelessness.

“This is the crisis of our times. We are looking at bringing more people indoors, but not just housing people for the sake of housing, but matching supports to the level that people need them. Creating supportive housing through these projects with CMHA is going to do exactly that.”

They will need to seek funding from the provincial or municipal government for operating costs.

To date, $17.4 million has already been granted to out the door housing initiatives as well as the two hubs that are currently in full operation.

“We are already we’re seeing change,” said Silva.

“Just to give you an example, the 50 people that have been housed at the House of Hope - that’s that partnership with LHC and London Cares- they moved in, well over a year ago, and the success rate, like already 87 per cent of those people have remained successfully housed. The significant drop in visits to the E.R. and police interactions significantly reduced well over 70 per cent.”

CMHA TVAMHS has purchased the two properties, but said this donation will help create something they couldn’t do on their own.

“We don’t have $5 million in the bank,” said Astolfi. “We need stuff like this in order to get these things up.”

The Hill Street location will start construction this fall, with occupancy planned for fall 2026. The Huron Street project will start early 2026, with occupancy by winter 2027.