City and County celebrate grand opening of new affordable housing development at Lucy Marco Place

BRANTFORD, ON – On Wednesday, October 9, City of Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis and County of Brant Mayor David Bailey, along with Housing and Homelessness staff and members of the Social Services Committee celebrated the official opening of the City’s newest affordable housing development at Lucy Marco Place, 40 Queen Street.

This addition to the City’s housing portfolio is another part of the City’s ongoing efforts to address the increasingly growing demand for affordable housing. The City purchased Lucy Marco Place from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2023 and repurposed it to provide safe and stable housing for some of the City’s most vulnerable citizens. The 6-storey building adds 41 units to house individuals and families on the affordable housing waitlist.

Unlike emergency shelters, this development offers transitional and permanent housing solutions with embedded supports to help residents transition successfully and maintain stable living environments.

City of Brantford Housing and Homelessness staff will begin moving tenants into the new units in the coming weeks. Candidates on the City’s affordable housing waitlist that are identified as most in need will be given priority to the new units.

Housing support clients who have already been offered a new unit at Lucy Marco Place have shared their gratitude for the opportunity saying:

“I can finally say we are not homeless anymore and are moving into a place we can call our home. [The City] went above and beyond for not only us but for my fellow homeless friends who are also being taken care of. They made sure we got all of our IDs and took care of other responsibilities that we otherwise wouldn’t have accomplished if it wasn’t for them being there every step of the way. This is the most and best help I have ever received from the City of Brantford. They are truly a blessing to us all and for that, I am so thankful. There are not enough words or ways to say how grateful my boyfriend and I are for the Brantford Outreach Team. I have never thought I would in a million years get the amount of help and care that they showed us.”
- Mercedes and Donald, Encampment Outreach Response clients.

“This project is a testament to our ongoing commitment to finding creative and sustainable solutions to expedite the build of more affordable housing in our community. By repurposing existing buildings like this one, we can make more affordable housing units available more quickly and provide individuals and families with the stability they need to thrive. Today, we are not only opening doors to a building but to new beginnings for many, like Mercedes and Donald, who said, 'The City went above and beyond for not only us but for my fellow homeless friends who are also being taken care of.' Hearing these words reminds us why this work matters so much. I am incredibly proud of City Housing and Homelessness staff, whose hard work and dedication have made today possible.”
– City of Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis.

“At SOAR Community Services we are committed to serving our clients in ways that allow individuals to focus on achieving their personal goals. Whether individuals are working towards stabilizing their mental health, changing their substance use, or obtaining employment, it is crucial that they have a safe and secure place to live to focus on these goals. Our Supportive Housing program, in partnership with the City of Brantford, are able to provide these services in a dignified way through Lucy Marco Place where single individuals and families that have been precariously housed can rest and recover. By providing affordable and appropriate housing options like Lucy Marco Place, individuals can build hope and encouragement to continue to lead meaningful lives”
- Danielle Airdrie, Director of Services, Housing, SOAR Community Services.

Anyone in need of housing support or interested in learning about affordable housing options is encouraged to contact the Housing Resource Centre 1-888-621-0034 or visit the SOAR Community Services Housing Resource Centre website at www.soarcs.ca/housing/programs.

Photo  from left to right: Jeff Lowe, Housing Development Coordinator, Ward 5 Councillor Mandy Samwell, County of Brant Mayor David Bailey, City of Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis, Lucy Marco, Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma, Clayton Payer, Manager of Housing Initiatives, Residential Assets and Business Supports, Mary Musson, Senior Director of Community Services and Social Development. 

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Media Contacts:

Maria Visocchi | Director, Communications, Community Engagement and Customer Service
City of Brantford | Office: 519-759-4150 Ext. 5754 | mvisocchi@brantford.ca

Heather Carvalho | Manager, Communications and Community Engagement
City of Brantford | 519-759-4150 ext. 5741 | hcarvalho@brantford.ca

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