The former Parkview Motel has been renovated and has 32 bachelor-style rooms, with common areas and 24/7 support as a permanent supportive housing project.
It was a celebratory atmosphere at Grace Gardens.
After several years of planning, building, pushing and delaying, the permanent support of the Stepping Stone housing project held its grand opening on Tuesday. It is located in the former Parkview Motel at 721 Woolwich St., at the corner of Woolwich and Marilyn Drive.
“It was a lot of work to get here,” Stepping Stone executive director Gail Hoekstra told GuelphToday. “A lot of work tomorrow and then in the coming months and years, but there will always be joy.”
By the end of the month, 32 residents experiencing homelessness will move into their new bachelor-style rooms, complete with a bed, kitchen, private bathroom and a sitting area.
Four of the rooms are accessible, complete with wider doors, lower counters and accessible bathrooms. Four rooms are also considered barrier-free, so more open space for those with walkers or others who need more room. One bedroom also has automatic doors.
Apart from the rooms, there are common areas including indoor and outdoor gathering areas, community kitchen, laundry services. There are also offices and consultation rooms for residents to meet with staff.
“The staff helps (the residents) collect what they need to make their space a home, so they want to decorate it and get all the furniture,” Hoekstra said.
“Every day after that, it develops care plans for each person, whether it’s helping them with any mental health struggles, addiction struggles, medical issues, etc. . We are going to trust and rely on our partners. to help us with that.”
Hoekstra said tenants have the same rights as anyone renting a rental unit, protected under the Residential Tenancies Act.
Residents have access to support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And those who live at Grace Gardens can stay as long as they need.
“It’s permanent, so if they have to stay, they stay,” Hoekstra said. “But if they’re ready to move on, then they’ll move on.”
“The situation of homelessness, addiction, mental health, is beyond the word crisis, and these units are the solution,” said mayor Cam Guthrie. “Home first. This is exactly what we need.”
Grace Gardens is named after Grace Frank, a longtime supporter who donated $600,000 to help purchase the property in 2021 for $3.8 million.
It is one of three permanent supportive housing projects opening in Guelph this year.
Wyndham House opened its Bellevue project on Bellevue Street in May. In the fall, Kindle Communities is expected to open its project on Shelldale Crescent.
Together, the three projects will provide housing for 72 residents who previously experienced homelessness.