New beginnings at Magnolia Apartments: former church space now offers 41 affordable homes
More Waterloo Region residents who have experienced homelessness now have the support and stability they need to rebuild their lives.
A former church space in downtown Kitchener has been transformed into 41 new supportive, affordable homes, operated by Indwell. Called Magnolia Apartments, these units provide people with safe, affordable, and permanent housing close to transit, services, and everyday essentials.
Magnolia Apartments include 39 studio and two one-bedroom units. The building also has shared spaces for the tenants to use, including:
- laundry room
- bike storage
- lounge
- meeting rooms
- commercial kitchen
One key feature is the outdoor courtyard, which includes gardens and places to sit and relax. The building was named after the magnolia tree that blooms in the garden.
The Region of Waterloo supported the Magnolia Apartments project with $8.9 million through our Strategic Investment in Affordable Housing funding and the Building Better Futures initiative, which is our plan dedicated to increasing and preserving the number of affordable homes in Waterloo Region.
“Magnolia Apartments provides a home for people who were experiencing homelessness,” said Chris McEvoy, Manager Homelessness & Supportive Housing, Region of Waterloo. “It’s an incredibly positive and life-altering experience for people and will help to put them on a path of safety, independence and personal growth.”
This unique project turned unused classroom and program space at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church into much-needed supportive housing. The building was designed to reflect the history of the site.
Features such as stained glass, a display of the church’s historic bells, and reused wood were included throughout the building. This thoughtful transformation was done to preserve parts of the original space and create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for the new residents.
You can get a virtual tour of this unique space from an Indwell staff person in this video:
These new supportive, affordable homes are one example of how the Region is working with partners to expand stable, long-term housing options in the community and support the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness by increasing housing for individuals with mental health needs and substance use.
P.S. This isn’t the first time that Indwell has transformed a Waterloo Region church into affordable housing. St. Mark’s Place was created at 825 King Street, also with funding from the Region of Waterloo. It opened to tenants in late 2023 – get the full story here!