Simcoe County launches 2024 Age-Friendly Seniors Housing Grant Program
The County of Simcoe is once again providing $500,000 in funding to support eligible applicants in making homes more accessible, adaptable and inclusive for individuals who are 60+ in Simcoe County.
“County Council knows that older adults helped build the strong, vibrant region that we are proud to live in today. To better support aging-in-place in our region, we are once again working with eligible homeowners to ensure that current homes can meet our aging population's needs while addressing affordable housing in our area," said Warden Basil Clarke. “Since the Age-Friendly Seniors Housing Grant began in 2018, we have been able to support almost 400 projects through this innovative program. We look forward to working with our community through these grants to support age-friendly homes across the County of Simcoe."
The grant program was recommended within the Simcoe County 2018-2023 Positive Aging Strategy, which identified a number of recommendations for the County and its municipalities to prepare for the region's aging population. The program funds projects that incorporate accessible, adaptable and inclusive designs, which allow seniors to continue to live independently in their communities for as long as possible.
Grants will be awarded under three streams: accessible housing design for seniors; design for individuals with dementia; and the provision of support services for housing that incorporates enhanced aspects of accessibility over and above compliance with the Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and building code standards for residential units.
Applicants eligible for this grant include those completing housing projects located within Simcoe County (excluding the cities of Barrie and Orillia). Applicants who were successful in obtaining an Age-Friendly Seniors Housing Grant in the past three years are not eligible to apply in 2024. Applicants can be homeowners of principal residences or landlords, who wish to include accessible, adaptable and inclusive design modifications for occupants aged 60 or older. Grant amounts will be distributed based on the number of applications received and ability to meet funding criteria.
An Age-Friendly Grant Selection Committee will evaluate each grant submission in accordance with established evaluation criteria. The deadline for 2024 application submissions is March 31, 2024. For further details, or to apply to the Age-Friendly Housing Seniors Grant program, please visit simcoe.ca/age-friendly.
The County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit simcoe.ca.
CONTACTS
Andrea Walasek
Public Relations Consultant
County of Simcoe, Service Simcoe Department
249-535-3511 (mobile)
Andrea.Walasek@simcoe.ca
Collin Matanowitsch
Manager, Public Relations
County of Simcoe, Service Simcoe Department
705-734-8386 (mobile)
Collin.Matanowitsch@simcoe.ca