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A 15-unit affordable housing project begun last year in Olds is now complete. The units, owned by Studios Alberta, will primarily house single individuals who receive Assured Income For the Severely Handicapped benefits.

The bachelor suites measuring 325 square feet were completed in January.

"In our limited experience, there’s generally a rush to get into them," said Colin Lowden, president of Studios Alberta.

The company has similar projects in Ponoka and Drumheller.

Lowden said after the first project was completed in Ponoka, the company realized there was a similar need for housing in other communities and began investigating other opportunities.

"After Ponoka, we decided we would look at other rural locations in Central Alberta and Olds was one of the locations we looked at," he said. When considering a project, Studios Alberta looks at several different factors, such as the number of people in the community receiving AISH, availability of a central location that is close to services, and a municipality that is supportive of the project.

"That is a key issue. That’s really important is a good location, keeping in mind that (tenants) ... in most cases do not have cars," he said.

Included in the project are two suites built specifically to accommodate wheelchairs or other mobility aids. Those two suites come equipped with extra-wide kitchens and bathrooms to allow for turning as well as countertops, cabinets, light switches and circuit boxes that are lower, and a 24-inch wall oven with a side-swing door.

The project was funded by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Alberta government through the Canada-Alberta Affordable Housing Agreement. The provincial government gave $868,00 for the project.