Province announces more seniors’ housing

The province is expanding plans for a seniors’ housing development coming to Pioneer Drive in Charlottetown.

The new 20-unit affordable housing development that was announced last spring has been expanded to 32 units because of changes to the City of Charlottetown’s zoning and development bylaws for affordable housing.

“Addressing the housing needs of all Islanders requires a collaborative approach that puts people first and places a priority on our most vulnerable,” said Housing Minister Ernie Hudson. “Island seniors have helped shape the province we know and love and it is our duty to offer safe and affordable homes to support the current and future needs of this population.”

Construction of the 32-unit building will begin later this month, and it is expected to be finished in the fall of 2020. Government says its aim is to provide more affordable housing options for seniors and help address the wait-list for seniors housing in Charlottetown.

“There is no question that we need to act quickly and collaboratively when it comes to affordable and accessible housing,” said Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown. “The expansion of the Pioneer Drive senior’s housing project is a result of steadfast co-operation and collaboration between the City of Charlottetown and the provincial government.”

Including the Pioneer Drive development, a total of 206 affordable seniors or mixed housing units are currently under construction in the greater Charlottetown area with support from the provincial government. The current waitlist for seniors housing in Charlottetown is 180.