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Local interest group launches affordable housing network

The Wellington Affordable Housing Network (WAHN) is a new joint venture created by a group of interested residents wanting to address the need for affordable housing in the village. It is the brainchild of Barry Davidson and Anthony Lemke. Both live in Wellington and both are passionate about keeping the people in the village who want to live here and actively contribute to our community. This initiative has sprung from a local survey, and feedback from an open house hosted on March 27 where ideas and concerns were openly shared about potential solutions to the housing situation in Wellington.

Anthony Lemke and Barry Davidson are leading the charge to create opportunities for affordable housing in Wellington.

WAHN is designed to give a “leg up” to young people wanting home ownership, as well as providing rental opportunities to singles or families of all ages who need to rent but cannot find year-round rental properties. This also applies to seasonal workers who are currently commuting from Belleville and Trenton, or employers that cannot hire because there is no housing available for additional staff.

WAHN is looking for people with similar interests who are willing to invest capital with modest gains financially, but plentiful returns in social equity. WAHN’s aim is to help the community and prevent it from developing further into an area where only the retired set can afford to live here, while the working class continues to struggle.

“We want children to grow up, live and work here in the County. We want retirees to live comfortably. We want businesses to be able to attract new workers and expand their operations so that they can add to the County’s economy,” says a WAHN press release.

Donations made to the Wellington Affordable Housing Fund will be used to finance affordable homes that come on to the market in Wellington, as well as build new housing in the village. Two potential locations are the old Wellington Dukes arena on Niles Street, and 80 Maple Street, which would include a renovation of the old toilet factory that currently sits there.

Leading the way on establishing this fund is Michael Hymus, who has committed $500,000 as well as making his land on 80 Maple Street available for building. The United Church of Canada is also signed on as a partner and Davidson and Lemke will be meeting with Habitat for Humanity, which has been interested in helping with a Wellington location for some time now. All donations will be held in trust.

For the WAHN, this is the first step in establishing the foundations in what could be a way for multiple families to actualize their dreams of owning a house.

“Most families that get stuck in the rental cycle end up chasing their tail and not getting ahead. It becomes impossible to save up the money needed to purchase a house, let alone the fees and taxes associated with a purchase. Our hope is that this will provide a ray of light to those people by letting them know there is help out there,” says Lemke.

The fact is that that the help must start somewhere. Like a stone dropped into a pond, the ripples reach out to all corners. If the WAHN can keep one family in the village and contributing to the local economy then it can be considered a win. The fact that the newly formed WAHN is looking out for the little guy with no ulterior motives is something to be applauded. In a place being swallowed up rapidly by Airbnbs and seasonal rentals, it’s important to the vitality of this community for families to live, work and spend their money in Wellington. New businesses are popping up every day in our little village and even the seasonal ones will tell you that it’s the buy-in from the locals that will make or break them financially. Anyone considering investing in the Wellington Affordable Housing Fund should think of it more as a commitment to the future of the village than anything else. It’s not something that a person will get rich from, but it could dramatically affect the lives of young families looking to secure their future. To give back by supporting this noble cause is something for anyone in such a position to seriously consider.