Ronan Henneberry says affordable housing saved his life. He’s lived with his cat in The Refuge, a youth outreach centre in Oshawa, since May.

“I have, for once in my life, choices,” he said.

“I have options. I can do things where I don’t have to worry about being homeless.”

Henneberry lives in one of 26 units inside a former school building. The apartments range in size from 150 to 200 square feet, each equipped with a kitchenette, private bathroom and internet access.

The Refuge launched its affordable housing project in May, responding to what the mayor of Oshawa has called a homelessness crisis in the city. Close to 500 people are homeless in Oshawa, according to data from July , and around 1,000 people in Durham Region overall.

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