Eight tiny home units in Kingscourt-Rideau district ready for residents

Eight tiny home units on MacCauley Street are now ready for residents, elected officials announced with those from Habitat for Humanity Kingston and some of those who will now call the units ‘home’ on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
Photo by Jana Chytilova/CNW.
Habitat for Humanity Kingston and the City of Kingston announced the completion of an eight-unit tiny home project on MacCauley Street at an event that also recognized a combined investment by the federal government and the City of approximately $7.2 million to help build 30 new homes across three projects in Kingston.
According to a release from the City, this Rideau-Kingscourt district development, located next to the Rideau Heights Community Centre and across the road from Shannon Park, provides deeply affordable rental housing with support services in place to help residents maintain stable, safe, and energy-efficient housing. Two of the units are designed to be fully accessible, the City noted.
“Having access to safe and affordable homes for all is key to improving the health and well-being of our communities. Today’s announcement is a great example of how great partnerships with the City of Kingston have a direct and tangible impact on the Kingston community; together, we will help improve the quality of life for those who need it most,” Kingston and the Islands Member of Parliament (MP) Mark Gerretsen said in a statement.
The project was developed on land donated by the City, with capital funding contributions from the City of Kingston and the Government of Canada through the Rapid Housing Initiative. It fulfills a key objective of Kingston’s 2019-2022 Strategic Plan and the Mayor’s Task Force on Housing, according to the release.
“On behalf of Council, I congratulate Habitat for Humanity for their innovative approach to addressing housing needs and for working with community partners to ensure these homes serve individuals who would otherwise face homelessness or be at risk of losing housing,” said Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson.
Interior photos of the tiny home units. At right, Mayor Bryan Paterson explores a unit.
Photo by Jana Chytilova/CNW.
Habitat for Humanity Kingston Limestone Region, a not-for-profit organization, brings together volunteers, community donors, corporate sponsors, and revenue from the Habitat ReStore to create affordable housing for local residents.
“We are grateful for the support of the community, our corporate partners, and the City of Kingston in bringing this project to life,” said Gary Lees, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Kingston Limestone Region.
“While our traditional focus has been on homeownership for households that would not be able to afford to own a home without assistance, this project allows us to meet a different need—offering rental housing to those who are most vulnerable in our community.”
According to the release, each tiny home is a fully self-contained unit with its own washroom, kitchen, and living, and sleeping areas. Thoughtfully designed for both comfort and functionality, the units also provided a unique educational opportunity: as previously reported, the homes have been built by three different cohorts of students at Ernestown Secondary School as part of the Limestone District School Board’s Construction Internship Program (BCIP).
Students from the BCIP program who helped build the tiny homes.
Photo by Jana Chytilova/CNW.
“The BCIP students worked hard every day, learning valuable skills while contributing to a project that will have a lasting impact on our community,” added Lees. “Their dedication was key to making this project a reality.”
At the event, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) recognized not only the success of this project, but also two other Kingston housing initiatives funded by the federal government’s Rapid Housing Initiative.
One of these projects, a four-plex on City-owned land at 255 Yonge Street with an accessible unit on the ground floor, will be overseen by Tipi Moza, Kingston’s sole Indigenous housing provider, according to the release. It will offer housing to individuals who identify as Indigenous and are in significant housing need.
“This new housing is a meaningful step towards addressing the housing needs of Indigenous community members in Kingston. By creating safe, affordable, and culturally supportive housing, we’re helping individuals and families build strong, stable foundations where they can thrive,” said Winnie Peters, Executive Director of Tipi Moza, in a statement.
The second project involves the renovation of a City-acquired commercial property at 206 Concession Street. CMHC detailed that the project includes 18 bedrooms, each with a private bathroom a communal kitchen, dining and lounge areas. It will provide programming administered by Addictions and Mental Health Services — Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (AMHS-KFLA). Construction for the project is underway and is expected to be completed later in 2024, according to CMHC.
CMHC shared the following financial details about these three projects:
111 MacCauley Street:
over $480,000 in federal funding through the third round of the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI3)
over $260,000 plus land contributed from the City of Kingston
over $350,000 from Habitat for Humanity.
206 Concession Street:
over $4.6 million in federal funding through the third round of the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI3)
255 Yonge Street:
over $1.5 million in federal funding through the third round of the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI3)
According to CMHC, the City will also be providing ongoing municipal operating funding to support both operations and to ensure the continued provision of services for 111 MacCauley St. and 255 Yonge St. projects.
The City said that both of these additional projects are expected to welcome their first residents later this year, with celebrations planned to mark their openings.