Last spring, Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation (HNHC) concluded a pilot project undertaken in partnership with Fanshawe College to explore whether there was a need for student housing connected to the College’s Norfolk County campus.

The pilot was created to provide a housing option for students who lived outside the local area and for whom commuting to Norfolk County was not practical. The program was not specifically intended for international students.

Students participating in the pilot paid market rent. The units therefore generated market rental revenue for HNHC during the pilot period and were not subsidized.

HNHC monitored demand throughout the project. Ultimately, there was not sufficient student interest to warrant continuing the program. The student who occupied the housing for the full academic term was an Ontario resident from Kitchener who required accommodation because of the distance to the Norfolk campus.

Following completion of the pilot, HNHC returned both units to its Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing portfolio.

As of July 2026, both units were occupied by single-parent households receiving RGI assistance.

The pilot provided HNHC and its community partners with useful information about the level of demand for student housing in the area. While the initiative did not demonstrate a need for an ongoing student housing program, the renovated units continue to provide much-needed affordable housing within the community.

For more information, contact:
Louise Jones, Acting CEO
ljones@hnhousing.ca