20 affordable housing units open in Exeter

20 new affordable housing units in Exeter on Jan. 16, 2025. (Scott Miller/CTV News London)

Craig Campbell is checking out his new apartment. Campbell is one of 20 people who will soon be moving into Huron County’s newest affordable housing units in Exeter.

“I’m impressed. I like it. Yeah. That’s why I applied for them, and I’m happy I did,” said Campbell.

Just how affordable are we talking?

“The rents for one-bedroom apartments are set at $763. And it’s plus hydro,” said Barbara Hall, Huron County’s Director of Social and Property Services.

“I paid even more for a room and board to rent just one room. And I have to share everything else. Over a thousand [dollars] at least. So this, it’s affordable, because you need money for groceries and that,” said Campbell.

Not only are the new units affordable, many of them are fully accessible as well.

“It’s phenomenal. The whole unit itself is next level accessibility, way beyond the building code. But nothing that is like extraordinarily more expensive. It’s just tweaking how you think about the design and making it, making it work for so many more people,” said Julie Sawchuk, Huron County accessibility advocate and designer.

These community housing units in Exeter are 20 of nearly 70 brand new affordable apartments that are either built or are under construction in Huron County at a cost of more than $20 million. Six units opened last year and 40 more should be ready by this fall in Goderich.

“I know I talked to a young fellow the other day who’s getting a spot, and he’s extremely excited. He’s been living with housing insecurities for a while. So it just made his day,” said South Huron Mayor George Finch.

While there is great excitement about this project, it does not solve the housing problem in Huron County. There are hundreds of people on a community housing waiting list and hundreds more completely unhoused.

“Yes. There’s definitely demand on our community housing waitlist. We have over 500 households that have applied and on our waitlist,” said Hall.

That’s not including another 130-150 in Huron County without a home completely. Campbell, for one, is ecstatic to have a roof over his head and one he can afford for years to come.

“It’s nice to have an affordable unit, save money. It can’t compare to the prices out there, they’re a lot. And these are very nice. Well designed. You got space. You can put whatever you like in here,” said Campbell.

“This is going to be something that’s going to benefit the community for the next 150 years. There’s 20 individuals that now have secure housing that were living with housing insecurities in the past. Now don’t have to worry about that,” said Finch.

Campbell said he moves in in a few weeks and will be joined by 19 others who won’t have to worry about a roof over the head for the foreseeable future.