Legion says affordable housing project could get some ex-soldiers off London streets

Some homeless people walking the streets of London once served in the Canadian Armed Forces.

That reality is driving efforts to find apartments for homeless vets in a new affordable housing project proposed for Hamilton Road.

“People are always shocked to find there are homeless veterans. It is a source of shock and shame,” said Brian Harris, a district commander of the Royal Canadian Legion.

A low-rise apartment building planned for 1090-1096 Hamilton Road would have 62 one-bedroom units. It would be located across the street from Residenza Italia, a 52-unit apartment building that opened in 2011.

That building was constructed by the Italian Seniors Project, a non-profit community group, but the residents include seniors from all ethnic backgrounds.

“Our first building is constantly touted as a successful template. It’s a community, a place where people can feel at home and not be isolated in their own unit,” said Roger Caranci, vice-president of Italian Seniors project.

Caranci said the new building will cost about $12 million to construct.

The Italian Seniors Project has had informal talks with the city’s Housing Development Corp.

HDC head Steve Giustizia, who cautions the new Italian Seniors Project is in the early stages, said the proposal for a second building will have to compete with a number of other affordable housing proposals serving other vulnerable populations in the city.

Harris estimates there are about 40 to 80 homeless veterans in London, based on information gathered from residents of homeless shelters in the city.

Harris said if homeless people are verified as veterans they could be eligible for a variety of pensions and programs.

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