Just over $8 million in affordable housing funding will be provided over the next five years, to low-and moderate-income households in Hastings County. The announcement was made late Friday. The investment, which is shared between the governments of Canada and Ontario, will support the construction of affordable rental housing units, repairs and improvements to existing units, and rental and down-payment assistance to people in need. Rick Phillips, Hastings County’s Warden says that the funding will help address the demand for more affordable housing and the need to maintain the county’s existing 2,500 units. Some of the funding will be dedicated to first nations households living off-reserve, and to helping support groups such as seniors, people with disabilities and victims of domestic violence.