Rising Tide is almost halfway to reaching its goal of providing 162 affordable housing units to vulnerable individuals in the community.

In an update to Moncton City Council on Monday, the non-profit organization said 66 units have been completed so far in partnership with other community non-profits.

By late September, it expects the number will be rise to 82 with another 16 units in partnership with Harvest House Atlantic.

Rising Tide president Dale Hicks says talks are underway with the provincial Departments of Health and Social Development on a hybrid building.

“We’ve had some discussions about this concept where we’re trying to put forth a health and housing medical clinic. Twenty units would be above a medical clinic that would be for the real high acuity individuals.”

Here are the properties and 66 units to date:

• Property #1 – 8 units in partnership with YWCA
• Property #2 – 7 units in partnership with Harvest House Atlantic
• Property #3 – 30 units in partnership with Crossroads for Women
• Property #4 – 21 units in partnership with F.A.C.T./Salvus Clinic/YWCA

Hicks says community partners are working together to keep people housed which has been a difficult part of this initiative.

“If you evict someone from a Rising Tide property, you really had to work at it because we’re not a normal landlord. Our job is to try to give individuals as many opportunities as possible to remain housed.”

Hicks adds only two individuals have been evicted and it’s certainly a situation they don’t take lightly.

Rising Tide has received about $12 million for its affordable housing initiative which has come from the three levels of government, rent subsidies and grants.

The City of Moncton has committed $6 million to Rising Tide over three years with $4 million allocated so far.