Fort Erie Council Approves Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan (AHCIP)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fort Erie, ON – (February 25, 2025)

The Town of Fort Erie is proud to announce that Town Council adopted the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan (AHCIP) on February 10, 2025. This marks a significant milestone in the Town's ongoing efforts to increase access to affordable housing units for residents.

The implementing by-law was passed by Council on February 24, 2025, and applications for one of the three (3) incentive programs being offered through the AHCIP are open to the public on February 25, 2025.

This initiative was designed by Town staff and specifically tailored to meet affordable thresholds unique to Fort Erie. An impressive $75,000 was saved by developing this program through the talent of in-house staff and those funds will be used to provide support for affordable housing projects throughout the Town, offering financial incentives to encourage the development and revitalization of housing that meets the needs of individuals and families in Fort Erie.

The three (3) incentive programs being offered will provide funding up to $20,000 to eligible properties/projects to a maximum of $500,000 per project. A summary of the programs are as follows:

Affordable Housing Per Door Grant (APD)

• Provides financial help for creating new affordable rental or ownership housing units by giving a lump sum grant per unit/per project to cover costs.

Affordable Housing Study Grant (ASG)

• Helps cover the cost of studies that explore the feasibility of including affordable housing in new developments or using cost-saving building materials.

Additional Dwelling Unit Grant (ADU)

• Offers a one-time grant to help with the cost of adding an additional apartment unit to an existing home or within an existing or new detached accessory structure.

Applications for these programs are available online. We encourage all those interested to visit the Town of Fort Erie website for more information and details on how to apply at the link provided below:

https://www.forterie.ca/en/town-hall/affordable-housing-initiatives.aspx

“The adoption of the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan is a major step forward in our commitment to making Fort Erie a more inclusive and accessible place to live. By investing in these incentive programs, we are working to ensure that individuals and families have access to safe, affordable housing options. This initiative reflects our dedication to strengthening our community and building a better future for all residents."
- Mayor Redekop

“The Town's Strategic Plan identifies affordable and attainable housing as a community priority.  This program will provide an incentive to homeowners, housing providers and housing developers to provide much needed housing options in Fort Erie.”

- CAO, Chris McQueen

For more information please contact:
Breanna Antonio, Intermediate Policy Planner
905-871-1600 ext. 2501
bantonio@forterie.ca