Brantford City Council has approved a comprehensive business plan that will transform a former long-term care facility into a multi-stage housing hub, marking one of the most significant steps to date in the city’s long-term Housing and Homelessness Strategy. The ratification, made during Tuesday night’s council meeting, authorizes the City to move forward with a phased redevelopment of the 4.82-acre Fox Ridge site at 389 West Street.
The Fox Ridge Business Plan lays out a three-phase roadmap intended to expand emergency shelter capacity, introduce transitional and supportive housing, and ultimately deliver new permanent affordable housing tailored to community needs. City officials say the project will play a central role in modernizing Brantford’s housing supports while reducing reliance on temporary and costly stopgap measures.
Phase 1 of the redevelopment will focus on rapidly expanding emergency shelter options for families, couples, women and vulnerable individuals. Renovation work is expected to be completed by October 1, 2026. Phase 2 will shift the site toward transitional and supportive housing, incorporating onsite access to health, social and stabilization services. The plan’s third phase outlines future development potential for permanent affordable housing, with preliminary concepts suggesting space for between 72 and 144 modular units—aligning with current federal and provincial funding priorities.
Council’s decision authorizes municipal staff to proceed with the operational and service delivery model outlined in the business plan, including a hybrid support approach overseen directly by the City. The approval also confirms a capital investment of $11.47 million for acquisition and Phase 1 renovations. Funding will come from the Affordable Housing Reserve as well as Ontario’s Building Faster Fund, which is designed to accelerate the construction and expansion of housing projects across the province.
In addition to its long-term redevelopment goals, the Fox Ridge site will also serve immediate community needs. Beginning January 1, 2026, part of the building will be temporarily leased to Six Nations of the Grand River Long Term Care to accommodate approximately 50 elders displaced after severe flooding in June 2025 forced the closure of Iroquois Lodge. The temporary relocation will allow displaced elders to remain close to home while the City carries out renovation work in other portions of the building.
Mayor Kevin Davis said the partnership with Six Nations underscores the City’s commitment to regional collaboration and coordinated care. “This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to working closely with Six Nations and our regional partners to support residents in meaningful ways. By moving this plan forward, we are taking an important step toward building a more coordinated and compassionate housing system for everyone in our community.”
Mary Musson, Commissioner of Community Services and Social Development, said the plan provides the structure needed to deliver more effective and dignified supports. “The ratification of this Business Plan allows us to move forward with a coordinated and comprehensive approach to addressing homelessness in our community,” Musson said. “Fox Ridge gives us the ability to provide safer, more stable, and more appropriate housing pathways while reducing our reliance on temporary, costly measures. This is about building a system that supports people with dignity, strengthens partnerships, and creates long-term solutions.”
City officials say the transformation of Fox Ridge is part of a multi-year strategy focused on expanding housing supply, strengthening service coordination, and addressing the increasing needs of vulnerable residents. The phased approach is designed to allow portions of the facility to remain operational while construction and redesign efforts continue elsewhere on the site.
To keep residents informed and engaged, the City will hold a neighbourhood drop-in open house on Thursday, December 11, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Fox Ridge Community site. Staff will provide an overview of redevelopment plans, discuss expected impacts, and gather community feedback. Additional consultation opportunities will follow as the project progresses.
With the business plan now ratified, City staff will begin detailed planning and implementation, with the first phase of renovation work slated to begin in the new year. The project represents one of Brantford’s most ambitious undertakings aimed at improving housing stability and creating long-term, community-focused solutions to homelessness.
