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SINCE 19 76 Duffy's Vacuum Centre KW'soldest VaCuum Centre Your choice of central vacs 519-741-9488 Canadian made Or european made nilfisk Or Cyclo-Vac 41 River Rd. E. Unit #5 Mon-Fri 10-5:30 Sat.10-1 ® Chronicle.WATERLOO $1.00 CONNECTED TO YOUR COMMUNITY WATERLOOCHRONICLE.CA adam Jackson photo Starting off on the right foot Runners leave the start line of the 2017 Waterloo half-marathon on sunday morning. the annual run included a woman who set a record for running with four children in tow. see page 24 for more information. New juice company opens its doors on Northfield Drive Page 16 BUSINESS WCI music program turns in a number of gold medal performances/Page 19 ARTS FOCUS Tackling the wait list Region of Waterloo funds four new projects to add 100 affordable housing units By Samantha Beattie Chronicle Staff Waterloo Region will likely see four new affordable housing projects break ground within the next couple of years. The developments proposed for Elmira, Waterloo, Cambridge and Kitchener will add 100 affordable housing units. The region will contribute $11.7 million through pro- vincial and federal grants, said a staff report presented to the region's community services committee April 25. "I was truly quite thrilled," said Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky upon seeing the report. "This will make a huge difference within the City of Waterloo and put a dent in the long-running affordable housing issue we have in Canada." The region will also give KW Habilitation $210,000 in additional funding so it can build a 22-unit apartment in Kitchener, first envisioned in 2012. The majority of units are one-bedroom, but that was intentional, said Deb Schlicter, housing services director. "We've really been pushing one-bedroom units for a couple of years, primarily because of the wait list," she said. Individuals and couples who are not seniors wait at least six years for a one-bedroom unit. "That non-senior group is our biggest concern," Schlict- er said. Seniors wait for senior-geared units, usually one-bed- rooms, for at least two years and families wait at least three years. And with an aging population, one-bedroom units can be switched to senior units if and when the demand emerges. "They're more flexible for the future," said Schlicter. Continued on page 12 THURSDAY MAY 4, 2017 www. waterlooreaderschoice.ca 2017 Nominations site NOW OPEN! Official voting for the 2017 Winners commences June 1, 2017. Our EASIER, all-new for 2017 NOmINAtIONS SItE IS NOW OPEN! Official voting for the 2017 Winners commences June 1, 2017 www.waterlooreaderschoice.ca