Haliburton County’s affordable housing advocacy group, Places for People (P4P), last week announced it has received a huge financial windfall after accepting a $400,000 donation from local entrepreneur Paul Wilson.
The money was part of a commitment Wilson made to P4P in 2023 to bolster the community’s housing inventory for lowincome residents. Initially, Wilson agreed to donate one of four lots he planned to develop on Peninsula Road, overlooking Grass Lake, to P4P. However, in 2024, he agreed to a $1.2 million deal with Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and Kawartha Region for the lot, with that group planning a 35-unit build at the site.
As part of the deal, Wilson made a commitment to gift up to $500,000 to P4P in lieu of the land donation. P4P founder Fay Martin and president Susan Tromanhauser said P4P remains a key player in the project. The local non-profit intends to purchase 15 of the 35 units from Habitat, once built, and offer them to people on their waitlist.
“The money allows us to continue providing much-needed housing for the people who live and work in Haliburton County,” Tromanhauser said.
Earlier this summer, at Habitat’s request, the County of Haliburton applied for a $12.5 million loan through Infrastructure Ontario to help pay for the Peninsula Road build. Susan Zambonin, the local Habitat’s president and CEO, said it will be a threestory construction.
Pre-consultation meetings with County and Dysart et al staff have already taken place, with Zambonin hoping to finalize building permits this fall. The project is expected to break ground in 2027.
While he initially sought to develop the Grass Lake properties himself, with a 2021 proposal for 88 units across four buildings at the site, Wilson said he was pleased to see the area would be used for housing.
“Affordable housing is a critical piece of the puzzle for the future economic success of Haliburton County,” Wilson said. “My hope is this [donation] will inspire others to come to the table.”
