Across Canada, innovative affordable housing solutions are creating good jobs and building climate resilience, while helping Canadians reduce costs and drive down emissions in the building sector.
Last week, Irek Kusmierczyk, MP for Windsor—Tecumseh announced an investment of $1,034,216 for five projects across southwestern Ontario including $499,990 for Essex Non-Profit Homes Inc. located in Essex, Ontario.
Essex Non-Profit Homes Inc. owns 111 three-bedroom, 7 four-bedroom, 2 five-bedroom, and 1 two-bedroom detached single family homes in a quiet neighbourhood in the town of Essex, Ontario. Each of these retro, 70s-style houses is unique. However they also have a number of features in common including front and back yards, driveways and mature landscaping.
Funding from the Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities will allow the company to carry out a deep retrofit of four of the homes by upgrading the insulation, replacing the HVAC systems, installing new heat recovery systems, replacing the windows and installing LED lighting.
The project expects to achieve a 54 per cent reduction in energy usage, 76 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a 14 per cent reduction in tenant utility bills.
Successful deep retrofitting of these homes could provide a model for Essex Non-Profit Homes Inc. to expand the initiative to all its properties and increase the efficiency of these homes.
The current rent rates and policies posted on the website of Essex Non-Profit Homes Inc are:
- Rent for all 3 bedroom homes is $1500 plus utilities
- Rent for all 4 bedroom homes is $1600 plus utilities
- Rent for all 5 bedroom homes is $1700 plus utilities
- First and last month’s rent required upon signing a lease. *We do NOT accept cash* These renewable one year leases are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act
- Pets welcomed, as set out in the Town’s by-laws.
- All units are in good condition and professionally inspected before move-in.
- Tenants take care of their homes as their own, taking out the garbage, clearing snow from walks, and keeping yards tidy. Professional maintenance staff and contractors keep the houses in good repair.
The rent collected every month is used to pay for operating costs such as mortgage, utilities, insurance, and administration costs.
The rest is used for the maintenance and improvement of the buildings (plumbing, electrical, heating, etc.), capital work (roofs, new furnaces, sump pumps, foundation restorations, etc.) and capital planning, engineering and consultants.
Click here to learn more about Essex Non-Profit Homes Inc.
Interested? Pick up an application anytime! Essex Non-Profit Homes Inc welcomes applications, and currently maintains a wait-list for housing.
Request an application by emailing essexnonprofithomes@cogeco.net or pick up a hard copy at the office located at 118 Queen Court in Essex.
Blank applications are kept in a box just outside of the office door.
Image by yourhomebylori from Pixabay