Government of Canada, Government of Ontario, City of Windsor, Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation, and Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Partner on “The Grace on Ouellette Apartments” Affordable Housing Site

Over $3.3 Million Joint Investment Supports 19 Housing Units in Windsor

Windsor-Tecumseh Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Andrew Dowie, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, Ward 3 Councillor Renaldo Agostino, Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation Chief Executive Officer Fabio Costante, and Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Chief Human Resources Officer Sheri McGeen gathered today for a ribbon cutting and site tour while unveiling “The Grace on Ouellette Apartments” affordable housing facility at 1106 Ouellette Avenue in Windsor.

The project, first announced in 2023, represents a combined investment that has converted an old medical building into housing by supporting construction of 19 units in Windsor. The project included the transformation of the two-storey building, formerly owned by Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH), into 19 permanent affordable housing units. HDGH sold the building to the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation (CHC) and, through the sale of the building, provided a $350,000 discount toward the sale, which represents a unique opportunity for the healthcare system to participate in the delivery of affordable housing in communities and demonstrates how existing infrastructure can be leveraged to tackle the national housing supply crisis.

The site was originally intended to include 15 affordable units and later expanded to include 19 units in total. As part of this project, CHC has also partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex County Branch to provide permanent housing options, where units become available, for participants in the Ontario Government’s Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs program.

The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario have invested over $3.3 million into the project with approximately $1.2 million in funding from the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI), and $2.1 million from the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI). OPHI and COCHI are both initiatives of the Canada-Ontario Bilateral Agreement under the National Housing Strategy.

The CHC oversaw the conversion, with renovations now complete and all but two units currently filled.

Quotes:

“The federal government is committed to supporting communities as they develop local solutions to their housing needs. The conversion of the former Hôtel‑Dieu Grace Healthcare building at 1106 Ouellette Avenue into permanent affordable homes shows how existing infrastructure can be used to address the housing crisis. Access to safe, affordable housing strengthens education and health outcomes, improves employment prospects, and builds more engaged, economically secure communities.”
- The Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minster responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, Government of Canada

“The investment at ‘The Grace on Ouellette Apartments’ at 1106 Ouellette Avenue represents a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to expand access to safe, affordable housing in Windsor and provide meaningful support to individuals and families across our community. I am proud to see the Government of Ontario support this strong partnership between the City of Windsor, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, and the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation — a collaboration that is addressing local housing needs, strengthening community well-being, and helping build a more resilient future for Windsor residents.”
- Andrew Dowie, Member of Provincial Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh

““The vision that has been realized at 1106 Ouellette Avenue signifies a significant step forward in the City’s mission to help provide sustainable, affordable housing options for our community. This project shows what is possible when government partners, healthcare institutions, housing providers, and a community focused on the right priorities unite for a shared purpose. ‘The Grace on Ouellette Apartments’ will help connect residents to additional support services and pathways toward long-term stability. This work directly builds on several key strategies guiding growth and investment in our community — from Housing Solutions Made for Windsor, to the Strengthen the Core - Downtown Windsor Revitalization Plan, to our recently announced vision for ‘The Village at The Barn,’ we are actively identifying and helping to write new chapters for City-owned lands that are ideal for getting more housing built, faster, in Windsor. Because at the end of the day, everyone deserves a place to call home. And in Windsor, we are committed to making that goal a reality. On behalf of City Council and the City of Windsor, thank you to all the project partners who joined together to make this happen.”
- Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens

“Seeing the doors of ‘The Grace on Ouellette Apartments’ officially open is a proud moment for CHC and all the partners who helped bring this project to life. What began as a shared vision between all levels of government and community partners has now become 19 new affordable and deeply affordable homes that represent safety, stability, and a fresh start for individuals in our community who need them most. We are especially proud that some units will support the HART Hub initiative, helping individuals experiencing mental health and addiction challenges access stable housing and vital support services.”
- Fabio Costante, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation

“At Hôtel‑Dieu Grace Healthcare, we recognize that housing is a critical social determinant of health. Seeing this former HDGH property transformed into affordable homes, particularly with units geared to income, reflects the kind of cross-sector collaboration needed to support our community’s most vulnerable residents. As a co-lead of the Windsor-Essex Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub the opening of 19 affordable units in Windsor will help ensure access to stable housing alongside the HART Hub wrap-around supports, which include primary care, mental health services, and addictions treatment. Initiatives like this create stability, improve overall well-being, and ultimately contribute to better health outcomes across Windsor‑Essex.”
- Bill Marra, President and CEO, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare

Quick facts:

• The Government of Canada’s National Housing Strategy (NHS) is an ambitious, 10-year plan that will invest over $116 billion to give more Canadians a place to call home. The National Housing Strategy includes two initiatives that are cost matched and delivered by Ontario. These initiatives form part of the Canada-Ontario Bilateral Agreement.

• The Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) provides funding to address local housing priorities, including affordability, repair, and new construction.

• The Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) protects affordability for households in social housing, supports the repair and renewal of the existing social housing supply, and expands the supply of community housing over time.

Additional information:

For more information on Government of Canada housing initiatives, visit Housing Canada.

As Canada's authority on housing, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing needs, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of the Canadian government, consumers, and the housing industry. CMHC’s aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada will have a home they can afford and that meets their needs.

To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit www.PlaceToCallHome.ca.

Check out the National Housing Strategy Housing Funding Initiatives Map to see affordable housing projects that have been developed across Canada.

For more information on affordable housing in Ontario, visit ontario.ca/affordablehousing.