Ontario Construction News staff writer
The County of Simcoe has launched the 2021 Age-Friendly Seniors Housing Grant Program, approving $500,000 in annual funding to support eligible applicants in creating age-friendly housing.
The deadline for applications is June 30, 2021.
“The County is committed to enhancing support services and resources that address our aging population and affordable housing needs,” said Warden George Cornell. “This grant program aligns with our Age-Friendly strategy to assist our residents in living independently as long as possible, while encouraging property owners to build and retrofit their spaces with age-friendly designs and features.”
The grant program was recommended within the Simcoe County 2018-2023 Positive Aging Strategy, which identified a number of recommendations for the County and its municipalities to prepare for the region’s aging population. The program will fund projects that incorporate accessible, adaptable and inclusive designs, which allow seniors to continue to live independently in their communities for as long as possible.
Grants will be awarded under three streams: accessible housing design for seniors; design for individuals with dementia; and the provision of support services for housing that incorporates enhanced aspects of accessibility over and above compliance with the Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and building code standards for residential units.
Criteria includes:
- Housing projects must be located within the 16 municipalities of the County of Simcoe – excluding the cities of Barrie and Orillia
- Applicants can be homeowners of principal residences or developers
- Housing must be dedicated to occupants 60 years and older
- Individual homes or multi-residential development projects
- Applicant has not already received an Age-Friendly Seniors Housing grant in the past three years; or capital funding from the County of Simcoe for the same project.
Grant amounts will be distributed based on the number of applications received and ability to meet funding criteria.
An Age-Friendly Grant Selection Sub-Committee will evaluate each grant submission in accordance with established evaluation criteria and make recommendations to the Simcoe County Age-Friendly Advisory Committee for endorsement.
Applications are available online.
