‘Deeply affordable’ CityHousing building first of its kind in Hamilton

Deeply affordable" housing units by CityHousing are an option on the horizon for vulnerable Hamiltonians in need a home.

Currently under development at 253 King William St., a three-storey, 24-unit modular housing complex will be home to the highest-priority individuals, including those facing domestic violence and experiencing homelessness, with very low rents.

The model for deeply affordable" housing would allow tenants to rent for as little as $85 per month based on their income, said Sean Botham, manager of development at CityHousing Hamilton.

He told The Spectator that the rent for the upcoming modular housing will be very affordable, especially in light of current rental rates."

The construction project is a first of its kind in Hamilton - manufactured in a factory and then deployed to the location for stacking and joining of the units for further detailing.

CityHousing allocated $6.4 million to build the units at a municipal parking lot, in collaboration with Montgomery Sisam Architects, a Toronto-based company designing sustainable housing models.

Enda McDonagh, the principal architect for the project at Montgomery Sisam, said the Hamilton housing infrastructure would not only lower the cost of production but also provide housing at a faster rate - making it possible for those in need to find housing faster.

Moreover, it will provide durability and longevity to the infrastructure.

Botham said the CityHousing team found that repairs and maintenance of older buildings are hard because they weren't built with science embedded in the construction program."

Their latest project with the architectural company solves that issue," making them more durable for the long term."

Each of the units, built for single occupancy, will be a 30-square-metre space with a washroom, kitchen, twin bed and small living space.

The building is also designed to control its own climate and maintain its temperature without an active heating or cooling system, reducing energy cost by 90 per cent, said McDonagh.

Toronto already has two such buildings for priority occupants, said McDonagh, which were delivered during the pandemic. A massive number of people were displaced from shelters during the pandemic."

In Hamilton, over 5,000 people are on a wait list for affordable housing at the moment.

Although the current housing projects don't meet the demand for housing, Botham said that his team would pitch the board for expansion.

The current deeply affordable" housing units, which began in November 2021, will be delivered by June of next year, McDonagh said.

Ritika Dubey is a reporter at The Spectator. rdubey@thespec.com