For three weeks now, board members and volunteers have been busy renovating the house that affordable housing corporation Places for People recently purchased in Carnarvon.

The organization is hoping to move two families into the duplex this spring and is looking for volunteers to help with a number of tasks, including painting.

To get involved, visit www.placesforpeople.ca or contact board director Harvey Walker at 905-435-7785.

By Chad Ingram

Places for People will be going it alone with a project in Carnarvon.

The not-for-profit housing corporation was shot down in its request for rent supplements by county councillors last week, but will be going ahead with the purchase of duplex just off Highway 35 in the small community.

“This is only private [funding] money,” said organization president Fay Martin, emphasizing that the lack of assistance from the municipal government will mean a higher level of rent. “We can’t afford to house the poorest of the poor.”

Much of the money involved is coming from a private investor who Martin said wishes to remain anonymous, but who residents would be able to recognize “by the halo over her head.”

Places for People has also been successful in attaining a $50,000 loan from the Haliburton County Development Corporation, $10,000 of which will be used for renovations on the building and $40,000 of which will be used to bring down the mortgage.

“We just need to pay it back,” Martin said, which is something her organization will be doing through community fundraising.

Because of its successful project with the former Orange Lodge in Haliburton Village, Martin said it was relatively easy for the organization to get a mortgage this time around.

With its first project, funding had been more available, but the mortgage more difficult to maintain.

The duplex, purchased through power of sale, will allow the organization to house two families.

Places for People had been looking at a property on Minden’s Bobcaygeon Road, but Martin said the Carnarvon project means the one in Minden will not be happening.

County councillors were finalizing a tight 2012 budget when Martin made her request at county council last week and a number of councillors also took issue with Carnarvon as a location because of its lack of a grocery store and distance from resources.

Martin is hopeful tenants may be able to move into the Carnarvon location as soon as May.

County council has turned down a request from Places for People to help with rent supplements on a duplex the not-for-profit housing corporation is eyeing in Carnarvon.

Councillors made the decision after a visit from Places for People president Fay Martin during their Feb. 22 meeting.

Martin’s presentation came on the heels of another by Hope Lee, manager of the joint housing corporation for the county and City of Kawartha Lakes.

Lee was there to inform councillors about a rent supplement program, through which the two municipalities would share costs in subsidies for renters of low-income, affordable housing.

The cost-sharing is based on assessed property value. For non-profit buildings, the county would pick up 38 per cent of the supplement and the city 62 per cent.

For units owned by the municipal housing corporation, the county would be responsible for nine per cent of subsidy, with the city picking up the remaining 91 per cent.

Martin was hoping the county would utilize the program to help residents at the Highway 35 duplex her organization is looking at purchasing. It is just inside Algonquin Highlands township.

“It would be suitable for families,” Martin said.

She was hoping the county would include eight months of rent supplement money in its 2012 budget and noted an investor interested in the project needed an answer by the beginning of March.

Dysart et al Reeve and county Warden Murray Fearrey had some issues with the request.

“You don’t give us a lot of time,” Fearrey said.

The county is in the process of finalizing a tight budget for 2012.

The warden also noted the county was already making a sizable contribution to affordable housing this year, with $190,000 towards the the 24-unit complex to be constructed just outside Haliburton Village.

The province and feds are picking up the majority of costs for that project. Fearrey also took issue with the location of Carnarvon.

“How are they going to get their kids to the arena?” he asked. “The transportation will be the next thing.”

The warden also questioned how many local employment opportunities the small community has to offer.

Martin said she thought tenants might be able to find work right in Carnarvon, however a number of councillors questioned the suitability of the location.

Algonquin Highlands Deputy-reeve Liz Danielsen pointed out that Carnarvon has corner stores but not a proper grocery.

“While this may not be perfect, it is adding to affordable housing for families in Haliburton County,” said Martin. “I think you can cut us some slack on that.”

Minden Hills Reeve Barb Reid wondered about a Bobcaygeon Road property Places for People had been looking at recently and while Martin said there was still potential there, financial and timeline concerns had her organization looking elsewhere.

The Carnarvon building has been made available through power of sale.

In the end, uncomfortable with the fact the decision would mean a commitment of thousands of dollars a year for a number of years, councillors passed.

Algonquin Highlands Reeve Carol Moffatt suggested Places for People may want to look at Dorset, which has a grocery, as a location in the future and Highlands East Reeve Dave Burton said he’d like to see a project in his municipality.

Places for People may look at community fundraising options for the Carnarvon project.

Places for People is hoping to locate its next project in Minden.

The non-profit, affordable housing corporation is interested in turning a building on Bobcaygeon Rd. into a duplex for low-income families.

President Fay Martin visited Minden Hills councillors at their Jan. 26 meeting to discuss the possibility.

“We’ve located a property in Minden we think would be very suitable,” Martin said.

The building is located at 168 Bobcaygeon Road, between Molly’s Bistro Bakery and the Minden Lions Hall.

Places for People would like to renovate it to contain two, 1,000-square-foot, three-bedroom apartments.

While it is currently zoned commercial, Martin said it was her understanding it’s been used for residential purposes throughout its lifetime.

The project would require a zoning change from C4 commercial to R2 residential, as well as a variance.

Township bylaws dictate that a minimum of 10,000 square feet of property is required to house such a project.

The property is approximately 8,000 square feet.

Martin was also hoping if her organization was to go ahead with the project, the township would waive the associated development fees, since the organization would be doing something for the community.

Places for People would like to ensure that it has council’s support for the project, before approaching funding agencies, Martin said.

Reeve Barb Reid suggested that the item be referred to staff to investigate the possibility of a zoning change and variance, any opportunity for the township to expedite the process and the possibility of financial relief with regard to fees.

Council expects to discuss the issue further at their February committee-of-the-whole meeting.

The organization’s first project transformed the former Orange Lodge in Haliburton Village into a duplex.

It’s been two years since tenants moved in there.

Max Ward Treasurer. Winner, Pat Bradburn, Director Harvey Walker with his painting in the background.

Special thanks to the bakers who contributed: Marg O'Shaughnessy, Marilyn Burrows, Adele Espina, Max Ward, Pam Forbes, Sandra Warrington, Joan Davis, Pauline Plooard, Connie Walker, Wendy Harding, Marie Lennard, Sandy Warrington, Pauline Plooard, Joan Davis, Marilyn Burrows, Joan Mann, Jan Heaven, Pat Woodcroft & Fay Martin.

Also booth volunteers Fay Martin, Stella Voisin, Lee Train, Harvey Walker, Gord Forbes, Adele Espina,