The County of Wellington is investigating the possibility of providing affordable rental accommodation for seniors and utilizing profits from the operation to subsidize provision of long-term care.
At its Feb. 22 meeting, Wellington County council authorized staff to engage a consultant to conduct a “continuum of care” feasibility study.
Council made the decision after reviewing a staff report from Wellington Terrace administrator Laura Holtom.
The study is expected to include a review of trends and preferences regarding housing and service needs, such as life lease housing (a leasehold form of ownership), market rental housing, affordable rental housing, adult day programs, and retirement homes.
The report will also include demographic analysis to examine the profile and projected growth of the seniors population in the target market area.
“From these sources, the consultant would determine the potential size of the market that could be accessed directly by Wellington Terrace for the proposed development,” the report states.
“They would also look at income levels in order to provide guidance on pricing and affordability levels for the proposed facilities comprising the continuing care campus, as well as data from the county’s social housing waiting list to help provide an understanding of the need for affordable rental accommodation for seniors of low and moderate income.”
The report indicates the consultant will be asked to determine:
– if there is a market for retirement home beds and life lease housing in Wellington “where the county has an opportunity to use the profit to reduce the county’s contribution to operate our long-term care home (Wellington Terrace)”;
– if occupancy of such a facility can be sustained over time;
– if funding is available to support the construction and sustainability of affordable housing;
– if there are potential tenants;
– if there are other needs identified to support seniors of Wellington County; and
– the costs of recent similar projects in the province and the projected return on investment.
CAO Scott Wilson advised council the target is to have a draft report for the information, heritage and seniors committee completed by May, with a final report to follow in June.
“We’ve budgeted $100,000 for this initiative and we expect the cost of the consultant’s report to be substantially less than that,” said Wilson.
Prior to a vote on the staff recommendation to proceed with the study, councillor Kelly Linton asked why the proposal came directly to council, rather than through the committee.
Warden Dennis Lever pointed out there was no quorum for the heritage and seniors portion of the February committee meeting, “but we thought this report was important enough; we did discuss it and ask it be brought to council … We didn’t want to wait on it.”
