The City of Welland has sold a city-owned surplus lot to Habitat for Humanity Niagara to assist the organization with its next affordable housing build. The .42 acre lot is located on the southeast corner of First Street and Plymouth Road.

The City of Welland also has a Memorandum of Understanding with Habitat Niagara to provide exemptions to development charge payments that will ultimately provide financial relief to the non-profit organization of over $57,000 for this specific lot. The city is also covering the cost for one water and sewer lateral to the lot line, which will save Habitat Niagara another $11,000 in servicing fees.

Welland is home to the very first Habitat Niagara build. Since 1993, the not-for-profit organization has built 26 affordable housing units in Welland.

“We’re always happy to work with Habitat Niagara and be a part of building quality affordable housing,” said Mayor Frank Campion. “Habitat housing benefits families while raising the value of neighbourhoods.”

“Our affordable homeownership program provides working families and individuals with an opportunity to purchase a decent home. We are developing a plan that could see up to seven townhouses and a single-detached house built on the property to serve as many families as possible,” said Mark Carl, Habitat Niagara’s CEO. “The single house would be built by Habitat Niagara for an agency that serves individuals with disabilities. Details aren’t finalized; however, we have been in discussion with them on what that would look like.”

Habitat for Humanity Niagara is a not-for-profit organization that mobilizes volunteers and community partners to build affordable housing and promotes homeownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty. For more information on Habitat Niagara, visit habitatniagara.ca. For more information on City of Welland, visit welland.ca.

PHOTO: Left – Mayor Frank Campion & Habitat Niagara CEO Mark Carl