Nearly three years after the project was first brought up as a council delegation, the ribbon was finally cut on Grace Gardens. What was once the Parkview Motel and an occasional emergency shelter used by Wellington County and Stepping Stone, is now 32-units of permanent supportive housing with wrap-around supports. On Tuesday, the official opening was celebrated as the latest step in Guelph’s action on homelessness.

“The solution to homelessness is housing with matched supports, and with the opening of Grace Gardens, I can’t think of a better way to acknowledge Stepping Stone’s 40th anniversary in our community,” said Gail Hoekstra, executive director of Stepping Stone in a statement announcing the grand opening. “We are so excited to share this beautiful permanent supportive housing project with our community, and to welcome our 32 residents to their permanent homes,”

Each room has been renovated to include a bed, a table and chair, a TV, a small kitchenette with a fridge, sink, and microwave, plus a private bathroom. In the former motel’s old office space there is now a community kitchen, common areas, laundry facilities, and staff offices plus private consultation rooms.

“This project is a perfect example of all the good things that can happen when you have strong leadership, co-ordination and innovation from community partners like Stepping Stone and combined with support from all levels of government. It’s been truly been inspiring to see this project come together,” said Wellington County Warden Andy Lennox.

“There is no question that Grace Gardens is one step in the right direction. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with our community partners, and I hope that you’re able to introduce more community housing solutions in the years to come,” he added.

Grace Gardens is the second supportive housing project to open in Guelph this year after the Bellevue expansion of Wyndham House that opened in May. The Kindle Communities project on Shelldale Crescent is expected to open sometime later this fall.

“The situation with homelessness, addictions and mental health is beyond the word ‘crisis’ and these units are the solution. Housing first,” Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie said. “I’m really pleased that there’s always a commitment from the City to really support these types of projects. This is why we serve, and this is why we build relationships and network.”

The Grace Gardens project was made possible by millions of dollars in funding from all levels of government including $6.4 million from the Federal government’s Rapid Housing Initiative, $1.2 million in funding from the County of Wellington and Ontario’s Social Services Relief Fund, and a significant endowment from the estate of Grace Franks, one of Stepping Stone’s most reliable patrons, and in whose honour the project is named.

Residents are expected to move in to Grace Gardens in the next few weeks.