Temporary lodgings

To assist in the demand for supportive housing, McKellar Place is offering 75 suites for seniors needing assistance for everyday activities.

St. Joseph’s Care Group partnered with the North West Community Care Access Centre and North West Local Health Integration Network to offer 75 temporary apartments at McKellar Place.

The apartments are being offered to seniors in need who are waiting for a permanent facility – the Centre of Excellence for Integrated Seniors’ Services. That location will not be opened until 2011.

The LHIN provided funding for McKellar Place, which will go toward staffing. The seniors’ apartments are scheduled to be available in October, following completion of McKellar Place renovations.

Tracy Buckler, St. Joseph’s Care Group CEO, said CEISS would provide 132 permanent supportive housing apartments. But those apartments won’t be available for at least another year, so CEISS needed to respond to the supportive-housing demand in the meantime.

"We’re happy that it is coming to fruition," Buckler said.

Buckler said although the 75 suites will help get seniors some assistance, it still doesn’t meet the community’s demand.

McKellar Place offers a total of 100 suites with an additional 25 private suites on the fifth floor.

Ahsanul Habib, principal with Habib Architects, said they planned to have McKellar Place renovated in September before opening in October. He said seniors will still be welcomed to stay at McKellar Place once CEISS opens next year.

"Seniors need to be accommodated," Habib said. "Our building is ready so we thought it was a good partnership and accommodate some of their seniors until their building is ready."

Habib said the additional residents will not affect their plans and still has those 25 private suites available.

The North West LHIN was not available for comment.