THUNDER BAY – An Indigenous organization is one step closer to acquiring city-owned land to build a 20-unit youth supportive housing complex.
Thunder Bay city council on Monday night approved gifting a parcel of property on South Junot Avenue adjacent to the Superior North EMS headquarters to Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services to build a transitional home for Indigenous youth.
The land, which had been declared surplus by the city, had been valued at $220,000 and the project to build the 20-unit facility is pegged at $3.6 million.
“Not only is this something we very much need in terms of housing for homeless youth but from a financial point of view this is a bargain,” Coun. Paul Pugh said.
“For $220,000, we’re going to get 20 one-bedroom units. You just don’t see this kind of thing. At the same time there is no responsibility from the city for the administration of this property. From all respects this is a great thing.”
