Repairs and renovations are now underway on three affordable housing units on Alpha Street in Owen Sound that were heavily damaged by fire.

Grey County Director of Housing Rod Wyatt says the work began earlier in September and the goal is to have all three units ready for occupancy by the end of 2012.

An early morning fire on May 25th caused major damage in one of the units and heavy smoke and water damage to the two units adjacent to it.

Wyatt says the repairs and renovations will cost about 268 thousand dollars, and the total damage figure is about 400 thousand dollars.

So far, the Ontario Fire Marshall's office has not pinpointed a cause for the fire, but it's believed to have started in the kitchen of one of the units. 

Wyatt says they are still waiting for a report. 

He says they are trying to get the work done as quickly as possible, so new families can move into the units.

Grey County has some 400 families on a waiting list hoping to get into affordable housing.