London’s Society of Saint Vincent de Paul breaks ground in their first affordable housing project, St. Vincent’s on Huron

The outreach and hard work paid off, and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul London Particular Council saw a huge turnout for its groundbreaking ceremony on the morning of April 3, 2025. Well over 125 people from the nearby community, affordable housing partners, donors, volunteers, and politicians gathered at 1500 Huron Street in London’s Northeast to witness the groundbreaking for what will be St. Vincent’s on Huron. The ceremony took place to celebrate a new six-story building with 73 one- and two-bedroom units, 17 fully accessible apartments, all bathrooms accessible, and a community room. The overall project cost is projected to be $27 million, and the building will be ready for tenants in December 2026 or early 2027. This is the first affordable housing project for London’s Saint Vincent de Paul, which started planning late in 2022.

The weather could have been awful, with icy cold rain as it was the day before, yet it cleared for April 3rd and was bright and warm. Shelley Baker and Mary Michniewicz, honorary co-chairs for the SSVP Affordable Housing fundraising campaign, led the uplifting ceremony and addressed the crowd.


Shelley Baker, a member of SSVP, said, "Mary and I are deeply honoured to serve as the co-chairs of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul’s Affordable Housing Project campaign because we believe everyone deserves access to safe, dignified, and affordable housing.” And she added, “Supporting this initiative is an opportunity to create lasting change in our community, providing families and individuals the stability they need to thrive. The work of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul aligns with our faith and our values of compassion, justice, and the belief that together, we can build a future where no one is left behind."

Currently, there are well over 7,000 individuals and families in need of long-term affordable housing in London. Undertaking a project of this magnitude for the first time, SSVP put together a team of volunteers with expertise in affordable housing and began the process in partnership with the City of London to become an accredited affordable housing provider. This volunteer team worked with consultants and architects at Cornerstone Architecture to design and plan a building focused on the needs of tenants. The land was severed from St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, community consultations took place, and then zoning changes were approved, followed by a site plan and now a building permit.

Of the overall project costs, one million seven hundred thousand is SSVP’s fundraising goal. Shelley Baker announced at the event that as of the end of March, SSVP London has reached 81% of its fundraising goal. Donations have come from many sectors, individuals, foundations and local businesses, and the fundraising campaign continues. Late in 2024, funds received reached a significant milestone that made the purchase of land possible from the Diocese of London.

The Bishop of London, Most Rev. Ronald P. Fabbro, said, “The Diocese of London is proud to play a role in this initiative. It has my full support. I am very pleased that the St. Vincent's on Huron affordable housing project is beginning construction. It will help provide much-needed housing units for the people of London and alleviate the shortage that has only grown over the last few years. My thanks and gratitude go out to the many people, especially the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and campaign honorary co-chairs Shelley Baker and Mary Michniewicz, who have volunteered countless hours to make this project happen."

The SSVP Affordable Housing group has been working with and negotiating with the City of London’s Housing Department. An agreement has been reached, and the city will contribute more than $2 million in grants to this project.

London’s Mayor Josh Morgan was one of the speakers at the groundbreaking, and he was joined by six city councillors. He complimented the Society and stated, “We’ve got non-profit organizations that have done this in the past. We’ve got organizations who have done multiple projects, but new organizations coming into this space are exactly what we need if we want to meet our targets.” The units in St. Vincent’s on Huron will be counted towards the city’s commitment to build 3,000 affordable units by 2027.” He added, “affordable housing projects like St. Vincent’s on Huron are essential in tackling London’s housing crisis. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul’s leadership and commitment to serving our community are truly commendable. This development will provide stability and dignity to those who need it most, offering a foundation for individuals and families to build a brighter future.”

Comments were provided by the Diocese's Chief Financial Officer, Andrew Jardine and by Steve Pfaff, Interim Business Manager for the Fanshawe-Thames Catholic Family of Parishes, on behalf of the diocese and for the parish. Later, Linda Dollard, National President of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, and John Ketalaars, SSVP London Particular Council President, spoke to those gathered about the importance of this project and the strategic direction of the Society.

With a backhoe as a backdrop, the group invited up to put on a hard hat and take a shovel were the mayor, ward councillor, co-chairs of the fundraising campaign, SSVP National President and London President, as well a representative from the Diocese and St. Andrew’s Parish. It was quite a sight to see them act in unison and dig in. All those present were invited to the reception held in the church hall following the ceremony, and they enjoyed a light meal and refreshments.