Norfolk County Council heard from staff this week about the Haldimand-Norfolk Housing Corporation Repair and Renewal Strategy.
The program is focused on rent geared to income, affordable housing, and market priced housing.
The waitlist for H-N social housing has 552 individuals or families looking for housing, with 338 of those in Norfolk.
A new building in Simcoe has been recommended with a mixed-income model, with RGI, affordable, and market options available in the 48 unit project.
Funding to help with the new builds would come, in part, by the county selling off single detached units they currently own.
The estimated total cost for the Simcoe project is $28.8M. Overall, the project including repair and renewal of old units, and the new site will sit at $64.8M.
The biggest concern from Mayor Amy Martin was the price tag.
She added if they had the money this would be the perfect initiative to support.
Councillor Chris Van Paassen said the project is about 40 years overdue.
Council accepted the presentation as information, and gave staff the go ahead to start selling the units to prepare the project.
Staff was directed to bring another report to the table regarding the water, wastewater, and cost before a decision is made. This allows staff to continue meeting and discussing the project with the Haldimand-Norfolk Housing Corporation.
Written by Ashley Taylor