Habitat for Humanity Windsor Essex has launched a new modular building program with an indoor groundbreaking at the A-LINX manufacturing facility in Oldcastle, ON., marking a shift toward innovative construction methods that aim to increase affordable homeownership across Canada.
This unique event, the first indoor groundbreaking in the local Habitat’s history, introduced a collaboration with A-LINX, a division of Amico, to build a 16-home development in Amherstburg, ON. The homes will be produced inside the factory and transported to site once foundations are prepared.
A-LINX is unique in the modular space because of its ability to build designs that address everything from ADU, Missing Middle, to 20 story buildings. Built to National Building Code, this company is one of the only modular builders poised to scale at a national level.
Habitat says the partnership is intended to scale affordable home construction and serve as a model for communities across the country.
“Today marks a turning point. Modular construction allows us to deliver homes faster, with high quality and greater predictability, which is exactly what this housing moment requires,” said Fiona Coughlin, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Windsor Essex.
“This partnership shows the potential for a made-in-Canada solution that can support affordable homeownership in communities of every size.”
A-LINX manufactures fully finished modular units that can be configured as single homes, duplexes, fourplexes or multi-unit, multi-story buildings. The steel-framed system allows production in controlled conditions to shorten build timelines and limit weather-related delays.
“This is more than one project. It is a demonstration of how Canadian manufacturing capacity can be applied to the housing challenge,” said Justin Amicone, General Manager Amico Design Build and A-LINX.
“By combining advanced building technology with strong community partners, we can accelerate delivery of attainable homes and create a replicable model for regions across the country.”
Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex previously received national attention for developing Canada’s first permitted for residential occupancy, 3D-printed, multi-unit building in Leamington, Ontario in 2022.
The organization says modular production represents another milestone in its commitment to innovate, collaborate and expand access to homeownership.
Municipal planning for the Amherstburg site is underway, with construction expected to begin in 2026.
Details on design, site layout and homeowner selection will be shared as development progresses.