Nine months ago, Indwell became the proud owners of the Norfolk Inn in Simcoe. The building had once been the beating heart of Norfolk County ’s social scene, but for more than a decade, it ’s been in decline. Over the years, numerous plans for converting the property had come and gone, leaving Norfolk County and downtown businesses carrying the costs of unpaid taxes, decrepit conditions, and the social fallout of tenants living with unaddressed addictions, mental health, and other personal challenges.
After eight months, we have successfully found alternate housing options for all 41 tenants who were living at the Norfolk Inn —no easy task given Norfolk County ’s very low vacancy rates and skyrocketing rental costs (one-bedroom apartments are now over $1,000 almost everywhere in the county). 

Alongside the rehousing process, our development team has been working out renovation plans in response to the community ’s expressed needs for new supported housing. 

The designs re-imagine the existing building to include 32 one-bedroom and studio apartments, along with a range of tenant amenities, staff offices, and new commercial rental space. 

Like with every Indwell project, success comes through a community working together —including a sustainable funding model. After much discussion, Norfolk County Council took the bold step of committing to a 20-year funding formula that underpins the project ’s long-term sustainability. This will be an important catalyst for leveraging additional funding from other levels of government. 

We also need people like you to join us in financially supporting and demonstrating community commitment for this project. The end result will provide residents of Norfolk County with permanent access to a supportive housing community, while transforming this downtown landmark from a blight to a beacon of possibility.