Jason Teakle
BRANT NEWS

Volunteers and tenants of JCI Brantford celebrated more than 30 years of the organization providing affordable housing to local residents on Sunday afternoon.

“We own 84 single-family dwellings scattered across Brantford,” said Dave Arsenault, property manager with Jaycees Brantford Non-Profit Homes Corporation. “We have about 260 tenants living in both rent geared-to-income and low-end market rent homes.

“Today is an appreciation day for our tenants and to celebrate more than 30 years of our corporation operating in Brantford.”

About 100 people attended the barbecue event at 73 Pearl St., where some residences owned by Jaycees Brantford Non-Profit Homes Corporation are located. Entertainment was provided by musician Steven Branchaud.

Arsenault said the City of Brantford allocates funding from higher levels of government to JCI Brantford. He said the organization holds about $1.5 million in property.

“We provide housing opportunities to our tenants that they may not have had otherwise,” Arsenault said. “We provide inexpensive enough rent so they have the opportunity to eventually purchase a home of their own.”

Sunday’s event featured a visit from JCI national president Francois Begin, who is touring across Canada this month.

“JCI is all about community,” Begin said. “If we form a better community, we will be better people.”

Paula VanSickle has been a tenant of JCI Brantford since 1994.

“I raised my two children here and I still live in the same building,” VanSickle said. “JCI Brantford provides affordable housing for people on low incomes such as myself and it allows us to live a better, healthier lifestyle.”