A Milton councillor is floating the idea of transforming the local police station into affordable housing following its relocation next year.
With more provincial funding secured for new assisted housing projects in Burlington and Oakville, Coun. Sameera Ali is encouraging regional staff to explore similar housing options locally.
“What about Milton?” Ali asked at Wednesday’s regional council meeting.
Under the Encampment Response Initiative, Halton Region will receive over $500,000 for four modular shelter units at 2404 Queensway Dr. in Burlington. Additionally, more than $3 million has been allocated to support the development of 52 assisted housing units at 265 Kerr St. in Oakville through the Last Mile Funding program.
“Is there an opportunity in Milton to do something like this? Because I can tell you, the demand is there,” Ali said.
The region’s wait-list for assisted housing now exceeds 8,000, the highest in nearly a decade, according to Alex Sarchuk, Halton’s commissioner of social and community services. “We do have a site in Milton at Allendale that has tremendous promise in terms of its scale and its ability to support a wide variety of residents on our HATCH (Halton Access to Community Housing) wait-list, and we continue to report back on our efforts to accelerate that project,” Sarchuk said.
However, Ali pointed to the long-term uncertainty of the Allendale project, which remains contingent on federal and provincial funding. She noted that Halton Region owns additional land in Milton, including the current 1 District police station, and suggested repurposing it for housing.
The new 1 District police station in Hornby, located near the intersection of Steeles Avenue and Sixth Line South, will replace both the Milton and Georgetown stations and is now under construction — with an expected opening in early 2026.
Ali said the Childs Drive facility is already serviced, secure and could be transformed into a shelter or housing units instead of being used for police training. "Why not use this regional facility for something that is much needed?" she asked.
People experiencing domestic abuse or violence can apply for priority access to HATCH. Earlier, Ali said that the Town has the highest rate of intimate partner violence calls in Halton, creating an urgent housing need for women fleeing abuse.
Sarchuk said the region is open to exploring any opportunities and will continue evaluating properties for potential development. However, staff indicated that the police station site is already designated for police and paramedic services.
Ali, who also serves on the Halton Police Board, said she would continue to keep the conversation going.