Client: City of Cornwall Human Services Department
Year: 2024
Focus Areas: Community Housing, Affordable Housing, Urban Strategy, Financial Feasibility, Implementation Planning

To respond to rising housing needs, the City of Cornwall Human Services Department developed a ten-year plan to deliver up to 538 new affordable homes across seven key sites in Cornwall and the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. This effort builds on the 2020 Housing Revitalization Plan, which identified a total need of 995 units. While significant, the current plan leaves a gap of 457 homes, reinforcing the need for ongoing initiatives.

Each site includes a tailored development concept shaped by four guiding principles: Advocate, Balance, Connect, and Destigmatize. Inspired by missing-middle housing, the plan emphasizes livable design, community integration, and long-term feasibility.

Financial assessments accompany each concept, with projects targeting a Debt-Service Coverage Ratio of 1.1 to meet MLI Select criteria. Most developments will require 60 to 70 percent equity, highlighting the need for coordinated funding strategies using municipal reserves, grants, and partnerships.

With a clear implementation roadmap and monitoring framework, the plan offers a foundation for action and a model for future housing delivery. It is a practical, values-driven approach to building more inclusive communities across the region.