‘More than shelter’: Church takes on supportive housing project

‘This project is about more than just housing. It’s about hope, dignity and compassion,’ says pastor of ambitious $5.5M project

Mapleview Community Church is getting into the affordable, supportive, transitional housing game.

Earlier this week, the Barrie church announced its plans to build a three-storey, non-profit affordable, transitional housing building, consisting of 31 bachelor units, five of them accessible. It’s to provide temporary, supportive housing for individuals and families in crisis.

To be located at 300 Mapleview Dr. W., east of Essa Road, it will be almost 14,367 square feet in size and done in partnership with the City of Barrie and Hollyhomes Corp., a non-profit housing provider.

“This project is about more than just housing,” said Mapleview Community Church Pastor Jay Davis. “It’s about hope, dignity and compassion.

“This transitional housing initiative reflects our commitment to walking alongside those in need, helping them take steps toward healing, stability and permanent housing,” he added. 

“This is about people who need help in our community,” said Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall. “The focus needs to be on individuals in need of support and help.”

The new housing will also offer access to wraparound services, including mental health support, being job ready and spiritual care.

Nuttall said the project will cost $5.5 million to $6 million to build, and just more than $3 million will come from the city’s community improvement plan (CIP), in per-door grant funding.

Davis said the church is doing fundraising for the development, which will be built on Mapleview Community Church property. Work could begin this fall.

He also said the church will be responsible for the facility’s operational costs. 

Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing with intensive and trauma-informed co-ordinated services to help people struggling with chronic physical and mental health issues to maintain stable housing and receive appropriate health care.

“This project provides more than shelter,” Nuttall said. “It offers hope and security to those who need it most.”

“This is a big step. Now the wheels have to start,” Davis said of the church taking on both the project’s capital and operational costs. 

The city’s CIP is intended to encourage rapid investment in new housing units by providing financial incentives and other programs to facilitate the development of housing supply across Barrie, with an emphasis on affordable housing. 

The development’s site-plan agreement is being reviewed by municipal staff, according to the city’s development pages.

The applicant is Tim Preston, Hollyhomes Corp., on behalf of Pastor James (Jay) Davis, Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, Mapleview Community Church.