New housing projects in 10 communities in northern Ontario are part of a regional plan to build more than 600 units to address the ongoing shortage of affordable housing. In a news release Oct. 9, The Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association said its first phase of development will see work Timmins, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, North Bay, Verner, Parry Sound, Sault Ste. Marie, Fort Frances, Massey and Kenora. “We’ve pooled our projects, our expertise and our resources to create the scale needed to get housing built,” said executive director Fern Dominelli. “Our focus now is securing partnerships and completing the work needed to make these projects construction ready for 2027.” Work is underway to prepare the sites, complete designs and finalize other pre-construction activities on the first phase of the projects. Projects will require final approval by local district social services administration boards and confirmation of necessary funding before proceeding to construction, the release said. A planned second phase in additional communities will bring the total to 1,200 housing units. The association is a non-profit group that represents 10 district social services administration boards and the City of Greater Sudbury. The administration boards are local government bodies that deliver essential services like affordable housing and homelessness prevention, paramedics services, childcare and social assistance across northern Ontario.
