Dogwood Suites: 'Building hope and homes for all'

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If everything goes as planned, the Dogwood Suites will welcome their first tenants next spring.

The social-housing complex being constructed at the site of a former hotel in downtown Simcoe is aiming for an April 2022 launch.

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Dogwood Suites: 'Building hope and homes for all' Back to video

There is currently a waitlist of 300 people to move into the suites.

The three-storey apartment building will feature 51 housing units. Each unit will be one bedroom with a rental fee of $550 a month on top of a hydro usage payment.

“Building hope and homes for all, we’re housing people who have a hard time finding housing. We also help them build communities within the building so they get to know their neighbours and feel like they have a community that cares for them,” said Debra Vandermeer, launch supervisor with Indwell, a Christian charity organization.

Indwell, which originated in Hamilton, provides affordable housing for those who struggle to find/keep a home.

Tenants will be able to stay in the units as long as needed and have access to additional support services such as mental health, addiction recovery and housing support. A staff nurse will also be on site.

Indwell also encourages tenants to seek out other community services.

“We also appreciate our community because they offer our tenants a lot of support in different ways like the food bank and hot meals in town and we really encourage our tenants to take advantage of that to stretch their monthly dollar,” said Vandermeer.

Purchased by Indwell in 2018, the $12-million project has received government funding and community donations.

Indwell also runs the Hambleton Hall affordable housing facility on John Street in Simcoe.