By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
The Protect Essex Homes Committee hosted a yard sale and community barbecue on Saturday, June 12 at Essex Christian Reformed Church in support of the 53 families facing displacement through the proposed sale and redevelopment plans affecting Essex Non-Profit Homes Inc.
For residents of Essex Non-Profit Homes, it was more than just a barbecue. It was a chance for the public to meet some of the families being affected, hear their stories, learn about the history of the community, and see firsthand the impact that housing uncertainty is having on local residents, the committee noted.
Back in April, Essex Non-Profit Homes – which provides housing to 121 households with low or moderate income – informed its tenants that it is estimating the need to sell 53 homes over the next three-years.
This move, a previous statement from Essex Non-Profit Homes notes, “will ensure the remaining homes are safe and remain affordable.” It will prioritize any displaced tenants if vacancies in other homes arise over the estimated three-year sale period and will also prioritize them on its waitlist.
The sale of the homes will pay for essential repairs in others, to keep them safe and affordable for tenants. Essex Non-Profit Homes has invested $5.7M in capital repairs and over $1M in maintenance. It is estimated $20M is required to complete the needed repairs, it has been noted publicly.
Kim McMullin is one of the residents being affected by the sale of the homes, but she is unsure how long she will have left in her existing home.
She noted Essex Christian Reformed Church provided the committee space to host the yard sale, and to also host meetings.
The funds raised through the yard sale will be put towards the families being affected. “Whatever that looks like,” McMullin said. That could include moving costs for those having to move out, or any repairs to homes, as she claimed some residents are reluctant to put in work orders, afraid that it may make their home a target.
In speaking of the community impact of the sale, McMullin pointed out there could be around 150 people displaced, thinking of an average of three people per home, who need to find new accommodations. That impacts schools, she noted.
“People are scared,” McMullin said of those who live in this community, adding the children are suffering greatly. “It’s the worst thing, not being able to tell your child… ‘I’ve got it, everything is going to be okay.’ And, this is a situation where a lot of us have no idea what the next step even looks like.”
She said they would like more answers.
She questions why Essex Non-Profit Homes did not host fundraisers or community events to help fix the homes needing repairs before.
She spoke of how it is likely those impacted will be dispersed into other communities they may or may not be familiar with.
BJ Harrison is President of the Protect Essex Homes Committee. He said there is a multi-year waiting list to get into social housing.
McMullin worries that homelessness can lead to addiction issues and mental health struggles. She suspects Essex will become a tent town.
McMullin claimed she has put her own money into her home for improvements and is now being forced to leave.
They have reached out to different organizations to seek help in their situation.
In looking around for rent, Harrison said the cheapest he could find was $2,500 a month, which he said is not affordable.
The renters’ market, McMullin said, “is just disgusting.”
Harrison noted to their knowledge, existing residents have the first right of refusal to buy their house when they are posted for sale, “but realistically, they know who is there in social housing. Who has $20,000 or $30,000 to put a down payment on a house?” Harrison asked.
He said to his knowledge, there is more low-income and geared-to-income units in the community than market rent.
The group has spoken to MPP Anthony Leardi, who provided some information. Harrison would like to speak with MP Chris Lewis. He has been able to reach out to Federal Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre’s office, as he raises the housing crisis issue frequently.
What he has heard is that it is a municipal issue in that social services are overseen by a service manager, which is the City of Windsor for the region.
In October of 2025, Essex County Council – comprised of the mayors and deputy mayors of the seven local municipalities – voted to invite the City of Windsor to discuss concerns with the region’s social housing stock. The City of Windsor is the provincially designated Service Manager for various social services for Windsor- Essex, including social housing.
Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy made that motion, hoping the City’s reps could discuss concerns and opportunities related to the region’s social housing stock and operations.
At that meeting. Bondy said in 2024 there were 9,500 individuals on the waitlist for social housing. 36 of those individuals received access to social housing. In 2023, 52 people got into social housing.
“The system is broken, folks,” Bondy said then. “That tells us 9% of all the people that get into our social housing stock are homeless or at risk of [homelessness], and they very much need homes as well, but what we are doing is we are missing the mark on affordable and geared-to-income housing and we don’t have a voice at the table.”
The City, she added at the time, either needs to start sharing with the County what it is doing to grow housing in the County, or the County needs to start having its own discussions.
At the March 18, 2026 meeting, Council for the County of Essex unanimously provided support to the Municipality of Lakeshore in wanting to maintain the current Regional Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM) model for social services.
County Council also encouraged collaborative, evidence-based discussions between the County and the City, focused on service improvement within the current CMSM model, rather than creating administrative duplication.
The Protect Essex Homes Committee plans to attend a Town of Essex Council meeting in the near future.
Those who may want to reach out or may want to provide a donation, can email SaveOurHomesEssex@gmail.com.
State of housing in Windsor-Essex
In September of 2025, Essex County Council learned the Windsor Essex County Regional Affordable Housing Strategy had been completed. It was noted at this meeting that:
• As of December of 2024, around 9,800 active applicants were on the centralized waitlist for an affordable unit to become available in the region. 13% of those on the waitlist were those experiencing, or were at risk of experiencing, homelessness.
• Nearly 9,000 households are spending more than 30% of their income on housing, and around 3,000 households are paying more than 50%.
• Through projections SHS Consulting completed through this study, it is estimated over 15,000 new units will be needed over the next decade in the County. Of that, 2,250 will need to be affordable rental units, 750 need to be deeply affordable units.
• 80% of all households do not have the incomes required to purchase a home in Essex County. Over 20% of all households lack the necessary income to be able to pay market rents.
• The Housing Needs Assessment identifies five housing needs: an increase in supply of purpose-built housing; for more housing affordable to a broad-range of income-levels; greater variety of housing options; for more community housing options; and to improve access to permanent housing and related supports for those experiencing housing instability.