Community Housing in Perth or CHIP is saying a sad farewell to their co-founder Rev. Canon Ken Davis as he retires from a 10-year ministry at St. James Anglican Church in Perth.
After forming CHIP in 2021, the initial goal was to build a modest 3-unit structure to help address Perth’s affordable housing crisis. Shortly after, CHIP partnered with Carebridge Community Support.
The collaboration has seen the project grow to its present scope of 15 units after the donation of the Halton Street property from the Town of Perth, $2.5 million in funding from Lanark County and financial support from Carebridge and CMHC. The final step is a $300,000 local fundraising campaign currently underway, lead by CHIP’s new Co-Chair and Fundraising Director, Claire Smith.
Rev. Davis says, “It’s gratifying to see the project moving forward. We have overcome a number of critical obstacles. But hopefully by next year, this building will be completed and ready to provide much-needed support for seniors, single-parent families, the disabled and those in need of affordable housing in our own community.” Rev. Davis also hopes the project can act as an example of affordable housing development for other local organizations.