A new supportive housing project for youth in Guelph Wellington
Located at 107-109 Waterloo Avenue, Guelph, this project will diversify and expand our programming with a unique layout that features two discrete halves. 109 Waterloo will transform into a deeply affordable 10-unit supportive living program with an innovative apartment-style design. This intentional layout will encourage independence and life-skill development alongside embedded 24/7 wrap-around on-site services. Each of the three floors will be fully equipped suites that include a modern, updated kitchen, bathroom, spacious bedrooms, and a cozy living room. Meanwhile, 107 Waterloo is a triplex that will largely remain unchanged, offering three transitional independent living units for youth while keeping meaningful support within arms reach. These apartments will uniquely serve youth whose backgrounds present as a barrier to congregate living, including young parents and those with experiences of domestic violence or human trafficking.
At Wyndham House, we understand the importance of a built-for-purpose design and have taken great care in using our expertise to design spaces that meet the unique health and wellness needs of our client population. Not only has the layout been intentionally designed, but interior fixtures have been meticulously selected for a balance between commercial strength and a “homey,” residential feel. This approach aims to promote safety, ensure resistance to wear and tear, and foster a sense of belonging. The design also aligns with neighbourhood feel and heritage design elements so that the building has curb appeal and blends into the neighborhood.
With the skills and knowledge of Frontiers Build + Design, this building will be a permanent and high-performance building, delivering exceptional durability, comfort, and energy efficiency. By focusing on airtight construction, robust insulation, and high-quality windows and doors, we aim to reduce heating and cooling demands, improve indoor air quality, and create a healthy, quiet, and longer-lasting building. For supportive housing, this means lower operational costs, fewer maintenance issues, and a safer, more resilient environment for residents.
Welcome 2 Waterloo exemplifies our dedication to offering secure, customized housing solutions for complex youth overcoming various challenges. Our priority is to promote the comprehensive well-being of young individuals, both physically and mentally, throughout their housing journey. By offering youth a safe and stable environment alongside comprehensive wrap-around support that addresses underlying issues, this project will help youth break the detrimental cycle of homelessness to avoid its associated trauma, violence, and isolation.
Partnership Opportunities
We are grateful to ask for your partnership in our ambitious new endeavour to expand, renovate, and enhance 107-109 Waterloo Avenue. There are many ways you can get involved in launching this innovative, supportive housing program:
- The Home for Good Campaign. We are proud to be working in partnership with United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin, the Guelph Community Foundation and other partners on a collective effort to solve chronic homelessness. Home for Good works with local businesses, individuals, faith groups and more to raise community dollars which have helped build three permanent supportive housing projects including our Bellevue project. Find out how you can be part of this community success story and support W2W and other projects at homeforgoodgw.ca.
- Discounts and donated materials. If you are involved in bringing this project to fruition, please consider offering our organization a discount on your services. We also welcome donations of supplies and materials that will help create a durable, long-lasting building with beautiful finishes that complete the space.
- Donations and room sponsorship. Through a cash or cheque donation, your generous financial support will be instrumental in helping us achieve funding targets. To truly make the space feel like home, there is also the opportunity to furnish a living room or youth’s bedroom.
- Share your unique skills, abilities, and passions. Has this project sparked your interest? If you have any other ways to contribute to this exciting project, please let us know using the contact information below!
We sincerely appreciate your consideration of this partnership opportunity! If you would like to learn more about the project or have questions regarding obtaining an official donation tax receipt for your contributions, please contact our Project Coordinator at allana.cortese@wyndhamhouse.org.