KITCHENER - The region granted more than $1 million to the Working Centre to create 15 affordable housing units in Kitchener, with about half expected to be ready for new tenants before summer.

They will be one-bedroom units, which are in high demand in Waterloo Region - leaving people waiting at least six years for a spot.

"One bedroom is a popular size. We just don't have enough of that," said Deb Schlichter, the region's director of housing services.

Councillors voted at a committee meeting on Tuesday to approve the funding just shy of $1.104 million. The money comes from a joint provincial and federal program that earmarked $801 million across Ontario to create more affordable housing over six years to 2020, with the region's allocation for the first year at nearly $2.55 million.

Work is underway on one of the buildings already owned by the Working Centre. The non-profit organization has offers in to purchase two more buildings.

The funding is a welcome boost for the Working Centre.

It bought the downtown Kitchener building - formerly owned by Ray of Hope and serving as the storefront for Morning Glory Caf� and Bakery - last fall with the intention of turning it into affordable housing just before the region put out a call for proposals.

"It was unbelievably good timing," said director Joe Mancini.

The Working Centre, established in 1982, has developed 35 affordable housing units with minimal government funding, he said.

"We've always done it on our own, so we thought we'd be doing this on our own as well," Mancini said. "This call for proposals was a real opportunity."

Schlichter said the Working Centre proposal that includes tenant support fit well with the region's affordable housing strategy, and they were able to start work quickly to meet the program's tight deadline of committing the funds by Jan. 30.

"They're already in the middle of doing some of the renovations," Schlichter said.

The report to the community services committee also included proposals in the early stage, and regional staff will work with those organizations to refine their plans, Schlichter said. There will be another call for proposals in the spring for the coming years of funding.