The affordable housing crisis may dominate headlines in Toronto, Mississauga, and Brampton — but a new supportive housing project in the small Northern Ontario town of Espanola reminds us that homelessness isn’t just a big-city issue.
Cornerstone Homes
Located at 661 Queensway Avenue, Cornerstone Homes officially opened this month with seven fully furnished supportive housing units, thanks to a $3.4 million investment from the Ontario government. The one-storey building offers one-bedroom apartments — some of which are fully accessible — as well as a shared laundry room, common area, and office space for support staff.
While modest in scale compared to urban developments, the impact for a community like Espanola (population ~5,000) is profound. Every unit represents a critical lifeline for someone experiencing chronic homelessness.
“The Town of Espanola is excited to see this project come to fruition,” said Mayor Douglas Gervais. “The opening of seven new units in our town will have a lasting impact for decades to come.”
The project is owned and operated by the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board (MSDSB) and funded through the Homelessness Prevention Program, which supports affordable housing and wraparound services across Ontario. Units are designed to provide not only shelter, but the stability and dignity of a permanent home with on-site support to help residents rebuild their lives.
Not Just a GTA Crisis
This project reinforces a key truth: housing insecurity is not confined to the Greater Toronto Area. As rents rise and supply lags, small towns and rural communities are also feeling the strain. Cornerstone Homes demonstrates that solutions must be localized but systemic, recognizing that municipalities of all sizes need tools, funding, and provincial coordination.
With just seven units, Espanola’s development might seem small compared to Toronto’s high-rise housing goals — but it illustrates what thoughtful, place-based investment can look like when local agencies and provincial support align.
Building a Province-Wide Housing Strategy
As GTA municipalities like Toronto experiment with public developer models, prefab mass timber construction, and zoning reform, it’s crucial not to lose sight of what’s happening beyond the 416 and 905.
The Keys to the City series will continue to track how cities and towns across Ontario are building affordable and supportive housing. Whether it’s 7 units or 700, every project is a step toward a province where everyone has a place to call home.
🔗 For more on affordable housing projects across Ontario, visit ontario.ca/housing.
📘 Keys to the City is GTA Weekly’s editorial series tracking the progress of affordable housing across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. Each week, we explore how new developments are reshaping our communities and creating real solutions to the housing crisis.
Follow us @GTAWeeklyNews for more updates. #GTAWeekly #KeysToTheCity
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