The Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley Addiction & Mental Health Services (CMHA TVAMHS) and community partners celebrated the groundbreaking of a new supportive housing project at 250 Hill Street.
The Hills, a four-storey building in the SoHo neighbourhood, will offer 33 fully furnished units, including seven barrier-free suites with on-site wraparound supports for residents experiencing mental health or addiction challenges. The project is designed to provide stability and support residents on their recovery journey.
Dean Astolfi, vice-president of supportive housing and program development at CMHA TVAMHS, said the project marks a significant step forward.
“With any of these projects, it takes a lot of steps to get to this point,” Astolfi said at the groundbreaking. “But this point today is where we flip from an idea into actually starting construction on the ground. We’re one step closer to having a place where people are indoors and getting the supports they need.”
CMHA TVAMHS has long provided supportive housing across the region, with more than 800 units serving individuals with complex needs. Astolfi emphasized that tackling homelessness requires both local action and provincial collaboration.
Mayor Josh Morgan said the project demonstrates the city’s commitment to addressing homelessness and providing support where it’s needed most.
“Homelessness has risen 25 per cent across the province,” he said. “In London, it has not gone up as much because we’ve created spaces, helped hundreds of people, and continue to have projects in the works. Solving this challenge requires small, methodical steps, and advocacy is just as important as direct action.”
Pam Tobin, CEO of CMHA TVAMHS, highlighted the individualized nature of the building’s supports.
“Wraparound supports depend on the needs of each resident,” Tobin said. “We provide case management, social workers, nurses, nurse practitioners, psychiatry, and peer support. Whatever supports people need, we wrap those services around them to help them stay well.”
The project is made possible with support from the City of London, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the London Community Foundation, and the Health and Homelessness Fund for Change. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
