April 12, 2025
Indwell has broken ground on a new affordable and supportive housing apartment building for families just east of downtown Hamilton.
The non-profit aims to welcome residents to Acorn Flats, 23 apartments at the corner of Robert Street and East Avenue, in the fall of 2026.
The future three-storey building will join The Oaks, Indwell’s existing, 108-unit supportive housing complex on the site.
The Acorn Flats effort draws $934,000 from $6 million raised through a community impact bond that Indwell will put toward three other projects.
“That is citizens putting their money where their priorities are,” Indwell CEO Jeff Neven told a crowd of supporters at a recent groundbreaking event.
Indwell is putting $845,000 from community donors toward construction and anticipates $6.2 million from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
The city, meanwhile, contributed $3.4 million to the project.
Families transitioning from shelters, or other precarious circumstances, will move into Acorn Flats, said Justin Lewis, director of the city’s housing secretariat.
“While today is a moment to celebrate, we know our work is far from over,” said Lewis, adding, “We need all levels of government to step up and be part of the solution.”
With larger two- and three-bedroom units, Acorn Flats is the first building Indwell has designed for families.
Amid a grinding homelessness crisis, shelter spaces for families have been at capacity in recent years, resulting in turnaways and the need to book hotel rooms as overflow options.
“The revolving door ends with projects like these,” Mayor Andrea Horwath said during the groundbreaking.
“Families can focus on their futures. People can breathe a little easier knowing they have a roof over their head and support when they need a helping hand.”