Algoma University is expanding by building an affordable 500-plus bed student residence as the City of Brampton works to expand its housing supply for its large number of international students.
The university is planning to create 500 to 600 beds in total, in a mix of single- and double-rooms in four to six bedroom suites.
The announcement comes months after more than 25 international students were found living in a single basement apartment in Brampton.
“We’ve seen cases like this on a regular basis,” Brampton mayor Patrick Brown told the Brandon Gonez show earlier this year.
“I would say we get regular code complaints on a weekly, sometimes a daily basis about dangerous conditions in secondary suites. We have estimates in Brampton that there could be 30,000 illegal secondary units. And it’s why we’ve had this real push to try to have legal suites that meet fire code, that meet building code,” Brown explained back in February.
But the new residence at Algoma seeks to help counteract the issue by offering safe and affordable housing to students.
The new residence will be staffed by Algoma University personnel and each suite will come equipped with two bathrooms, a kitchen and living space. Rent will cost between $700 and $1,300 a month per student, depending on room type.
The university expects to open the new residence in the 2028-2029 academic year, but said, “recent federal and provincial policy changes on building student housing are likely to expedite construction, and the move-in date,” in a press release earlier this month.
The new building was developed in partnership with Greenwin Corp. and Sweeny &Co Architects and will be designed to be a “decolonized” and “Indigenized space,” which aligns with Algoma University’s mission to offer a cross-cultural education for its diverse student body.
“The Brampton Algoma University campus is a unique, urban option for students that offers comprehensive services and facilities in a way that’s really integrated with the neighbourhood and the community,” Algoma University President and Vice Chancellor Asima Vezina said during the project’s unveiling on May 7.
“We are thrilled to be working with Algoma to expand their Brampton campus and to be building such a meaningful student housing project in the city’s downtown core,” Jason Green, director, acquisitions & development, Greenwin Corp added.
Similarly, Patrick Brown praised the university for taking steps to provide affordable and safe housing exclusively for its students.
“I commend Algoma University for their commitment to enhancing the educational landscape and enriching our community by ensuring more students have access to safe, affordable housing. This development strengthens our educational infrastructure while amplifying Brampton’s appeal as a city that truly cares for its students’ well-being and success,” Brown said.
For more information about Algoma University and its new student residence, visit its website.
