By James Matthews

Places for People (P4P) has acquired its newest property on Haliburton’s Main Street.

It’s an eight-unit property that currently houses 12 people. And Fay Martin, the vice-president at P4P, said she’s well aware of what those residents might feel toward the change in ownership.

“I have in my heart what this place means to these people,” she said. “They won’t be dumped on the side of the road. They will continue to be able to live where they’ve lived, many of them for several years, and at affordable rates.”

Quite simply, that’s what Places for People does, Martin said.

From the website: P4P creates and manages quality affordable rental housing in Haliburton County and fosters an environment in which tenants can thrive. The organization is built on the conviction that society thrives when everyone has a place where they belong.

Haliburton County has traditionally vied with Manitoulin Island for the dubious distinction of being the poorest jurisdiction in Ontario, according to Statistics Canada.

The latest acquisition illustrates P4P’s progress in ensuring the availability of affordable housing for people who live and work in the area.

Dysart Councillor Pat Casey, a local business owner, offered the property to P4P at a reasonable price before he put it on the open market. It would’ve been very attractive to up-scale developers, Martin said.

She said in a press release that Casey has always understood the necessity of housing for workers, including his own, which is why the rent rates that P4P inherited with this property are indeed affordable by community standards.

Haliburton needs a range of housing options from tiny homes to suitable options for young families, large families, seniors and individuals. And Casey would like to see different housing options available so people can transition from one type to the next as their situations change.

“People should not have to worry about where they will sleep tonight and they should have the ability to be self-sufficient and contribute to their community,” Casey said. “Times are tight right now and, for me corporately and personally, if we do have some money to spread around to help somebody get the next leg up and get started, to me it’s a moral responsibility for mankind. It’s just good for society as a whole to contribute.”

With the latest addition to the housing portfolio, P4P manages six properties with 20 residential units. The group also has its first commercial rental offering which has the potential to be a revenue stream for the organization.

Through the support of the community over the summer 2023 Community Bond Raise of $850,000, P4P was able to consolidate its debt, allowing unencumbered properties to be leveraged to purchase this new property.

According to Martin, these bonds are crucial elements in meeting P4P’s financial needs and to support their philosophy of empowering the community to use

local resources to meet local needs.

Haliburton County Development Corporation, a long-time P4P supporter, helped with the property acquisition. Kawartha Credit Union has also stepped up, marking the first time a mainstream bank has invested in P4P.

P4P is becoming known across the county and further abroad as a leader in how to move the needle on making housing a priority for everyone. They have housed over 100 people: 32 families including 47 adults and 56 children. 

“We have gotten to where we are almost exclusively using local resources to address a local challenge,” Martin said. “These newly acquired tenants are all people who live and work in our community. We are inheriting incredibly affordable rents which is very difficult to maintain because we don’t have the deep pockets of developers.”

P4P’s growth depends on the continued generosity of people who support us. Consider making a donation to Places For People to help them settle in this new acquisition and prepare themselves for the next challenge.

Go to placesforpeople.ca/home#donate or email P4P at info@placesforpeople.ca