Part 1: PEC Affordable Housing Corporation Approves 2025–2029 Plan and Advances Disraeli Street Project - 02/10/2025

PECConnect
Feb 10, 2025
3 min read

Updated: May 5

The Prince Edward County Affordable Housing Corporation met with full quorum and approved the agenda with no conflicts of interest declared. As this was the first meeting of the year, the board completed its leadership setup. A chair and vice chair were formally appointed, and the meeting leadership transitioned smoothly once those roles were confirmed.

View the entire PEC Council meeting, or continue to speaker comments and councillor votes

Minutes from the previous meeting were approved without changes, and there were no public comments.

Governance Manual and Board Structure Review

A major focus of the meeting was the introduction of a draft governance manual. This document brings together bylaws, policies, service agreements, and foundational documents that guide how the housing corporation operates. It was made clear that this was an early draft and had not yet been fully reviewed for relevance or consistency.

The board agreed that governance rules need updating due to structural changes in how the corporation operates. An ad hoc working group was created to review the governance documents in detail and bring recommendations back to the board as soon as possible.

Affordable Housing Business Plan 2025 to 2029

Two people examining a document with charts and graphs on a desk. A pencil points to details. Papers and a blurred background visible.

The board reviewed and approved a multi-year business plan outlining the corporation’s priorities, guiding principles, financial tools, and work plan. The plan reflects a recent shift in focus following strategic discussions held late last year and aligns with the county’s updated housing needs data.

The discussion emphasized that the plan is a living document and will be revisited regularly as conditions change, funding opportunities evolve, and projects move forward.

Focus on Seniors Housing and Transitions

The board spent time discussing the growing need for seniors housing, especially options that allow older residents to remain independent while gaining social connection and support. Members talked about how better seniors housing options could also help free up existing homes, easing pressure on the broader housing market.

There was agreement that affordability is not just about units, but about helping people transition successfully into housing that fits their stage of life.

Municipal Housing Project at 30 Disraeli Street

The board approved an agreement that allows the 30 Disraeli Street project in Picton to be formally designated as a municipal housing facilities project. This designation enables property tax relief and helps ensure the project can move forward while maintaining affordable rents for at least 20 years.

This step was described as practical and time-sensitive, helping reduce costs while setting clear expectations for progress.

Advocacy to CMHC on Rental Data and Funding Rules

Three gabled roofs of a house with gray shingles and white trim are lit by warm sunlight against a clear blue sky.

A lengthy discussion focused on advocacy to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The board agreed to send a strengthened letter asking CMHC to recognize local rental market data and adjust funding formulas that currently disadvantage Prince Edward County.

Members stressed that inaccurate rent data and a points-based loan system are blocking affordable housing projects, even when land, developers, and need are clearly present.

Regional Collaboration and Next Steps

The board also heard about a new Eastern Ontario regional initiative that could bundle shovel-ready housing sites to attract developers. The item was deferred to the next meeting for further detail.

The meeting wrapped up with confirmation of the next meeting date and adjournment.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:15:029 Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.