The Society of St. Vincent De Paul’s London chapter has broken ground on its affordable housing development initiative, a project in dire need in the face of a growing housing crisis in the region. 

Since 2022, SSVP London has been raising funds and brainstorming ideas for an efficient way to tackle the ever-present need of local affordable housing. Not content with building mobile homes or temporary shelters, the chapter has managed to begin construction on a six-storey, 73-unit apartment building, complete with 17 accessible apartments and a community space. 

The idea  evolved from a strategic plan the national Society of St. Vincent de Paul undertook five years ago to address and reduce poverty in communities across Canada. 

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Looking at the chronic and acute affordable housing crisis in London, Larry Mackenzie, chair of SSVP London’s affordable housing committee, finds his committee following through on this vision. 

“It has been just wonderful, and we believe that the community has been really supportive of our effort, demonstrating that support in so many ways,” he said. “To move affordable housing from dream status into actual construction, you need land, you need money and you need people willing to assist in actually building the structure as well.” 

The project will be a blend of affordable and market-priced units, with 50 of the 72 units sporting reduced rents. In 2024 dollars, a one-bedroom unit will cost $752 per month, and $814 per month for two beds — a deal Mackenzie says would be hard to find in this southwest Ontario city. 

Having worked with  the London Affordable Housing Foundation for nine years prior to this project, Mackenzie is particularly thankful to the many non-profit and lay organizations, such as the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Women’s League and local rotary clubs, that have rallied behind plans to address the more than 7,000 individuals and families in need of long-term affordable housing in the city.

Also playing a major role is the Diocese of London, who’s chief administrators supported the initiative by identifying and facilitating the land purchase adjacent to St. Andrew the Apostle Parish. The terms of the purchase were said to be favourable and help the SSVP move forward and make this project feasible. Located in northeast London, the site offers easy access to shopping centres, schools, transit and a community centre.

For Andrew Jardine, the chief financial officer of the diocese, the initiative holds personal meaning, as it was the first he signed off on as CFO in 2022. 

“ It was a great project to start off on because it's such an inspiring story. Bishop (Ronald) Fabbro has been focusing our diocese for a number of years on how to be a mission-oriented Church that forms disciples of Jesus,” he said.

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“This is also one incredible example of a parish being the hands and feet of Jesus and building up the kingdom of God right in our own backyard. That is something that will have a meaningful impact on the community and especially on those who are in such desperate need right now.”

Mackenzie revealed that the society has raised upwards of $1.7 million of the projected cost of over $2 million. He credits support from a community truly committed to bettering its neighbours. 

“ These groups want to make a commitment to their community and the citizens. The biggest challenge facing our community is housing, by a good margin. If you pick up the local newspaper, I would bet that every day you are going to hear about housing,” he said.

It’s an issue that has been steadily plaguing London for years. Mackenzie revealed the number of individuals in need of such housing when he became involved in 2010 was around 2,500. That figure now stands at close to 8,000. 

“The big catalyst was COVID, which dramatically changed the profile of housing affordability in our city. Before 2020, the number was a maximum of 4,000. By 2022, we were at 6,000,” he said. “It’s sad, and it’s all over the place. If you stop and look, you'll see things that you wouldn't have years ago. You didn't see the level of homelessness, the level of people struggling with affordability. Things have deteriorated, and the impact that's had on people is immense.” 

Unfortunately, things are likely to get worse in terms of housing affordability before they get better. Nationally, talks of an impending recession due in part to Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada and the world are likely to exacerbate a situation already in dire straits. 

The price of building itself has increased as well, a reality likely to carry on, something Mackenzie is all too familiar from his time with London’s housing foundation. For him, it's the sense of uncertainty with what the future holds in this area that makes projects like this so special.

“ The press has been saying we could have up to 160,000 people lose their employment across the country. I don't know if we are keeping up. I think we're continuing to fall behind despite the community's strong effort. London can't hold up to the growth in people suffering from either homelessness or grand financial challenges of maintaining their current residence costs,” he said. 

Mackenzie hopes the project will become a symbol of a continued fight for affordable living. He credits the collaboration with the Diocese of London as particularly motivating during this initiative. 

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“ Andrew Jardine and Bishop Fabbro have been just wonderful to us, and they truly have their ears to the ground and they're hearing the cries of the poor. We would never have been moved this quickly without their support, and we have also been blessed with the people at the St. Andrew the Apostle Parish for sharing their land with us to build a home for people struggling.” 

St. Vincent De Paul  is hoping to accept tenants beginning in December 2026. It also aims to expand its offerings over 10 years with the goal of at least two other projects built by 2032.