Home Repair Program for GTA off-reserve Aboriginal people
The program will provide interest-free loans to low and moderate-income Aboriginal homeowners to assist them with mandatory repairs to bring their home's condition to an acceptable level of health and safety, modifications to improve accessibility, and energy-efficiency improvements and upgrades.
The GTA Aboriginal Housing Program delivers two other programs. The Aboriginal Rental Program will facilitate the development of affordable rental housing by Aboriginal service providers. The Downpayment Loan Program offers interest-free loans to enable Aboriginal people to improve their socio-economic status by becoming homeowners. Details of all programs are available on the MBDC website at www.mbdc.ca.
The Home Repair Program will be delivered through the GTA Aboriginal Housing Program and is part of the Off-Reserve Housing Trust transferred by the Federal Government to the Ontario Government. The Trust was intended to address the critical housing conditions experienced by Aboriginal people.
Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
"We are excited that this Program will assist more than 50 families to upgrade their living conditions," said
"This partnership between our government and Aboriginal communities continues to make great progress, to assist off-reserve Aboriginal families in need," said Minister Watson.
In keeping with traditional Aboriginal values to plan seven generations ahead, some loans are partially repayable in order to establish a Revolving Loan Fund.
BACKGROUNDER
Miziwe Biik Development Corporation (MBDC) was established in 2004 by Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training. The mission of MBDC is to serve as a vehicle to facilitate the economic advancement and self-sufficiency of the Aboriginal community in the Greater
Aboriginal Home Repair Program Highlights - Eligibility - First Nations citizens (status and non-status), Métis and Inuit living off-reserve in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA); - Applicants must own the home to be repaired as a principal residence within the GTA i.e. City of Toronto or Regional Municipalities of Peel, York, Durham or York; - Home must be over 5-years old, requiring repairs or modifications or upgrades; - Assessed value of home must be at or below the average resale price of a home in the specific GTA area, as per Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) quarterly report; - Program duration: December 14th 2009 to December 31, 2011 on a first- come, first-served basis. To be eligible for the AHRP-GTA, a household must have income that is not higher than the following: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Household* size Maximum household income (before taxes, from all sources) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Single or couple(xx) $36,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two(xxx) or three people $42,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Four or five people $50,500 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Six or seven people $61,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eight or more people $75,800 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- * "Household" refers to the owner and spouse/common-law partner (including same-sex spouse or partner), plus dependants, whether adults or children. (xx) "Couple" refers to two people who are married spouses or common-law partners, including same-sex spouses/partners. (xxx) "Two people" refers to two individuals who are not married or common-law partners, including same-sex spouses or partners, i.e. not couples.
To find out more about the Aboriginal Home Repair Program or to get an application contact:
Karl Wieler Program Officer, GTA Aboriginal Housing Program Miziwe Biik Development Corporation 416.640.4684 Email: [email protected]
For further information: Media Contact: Mitra Maharaj, Program Director, GTA Aboriginal Housing Program, Miziwe Biik Development Corporation, Tel: (416) 640-4683, E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: www.mbdc.ca; To find out more about the Aboriginal Home Repair Program or to get an application contact: Karl Wieler, Program Officer, GTA Aboriginal Housing Program, Miziwe Biik Development Corporation, (416) 640-4684, Email: [email protected]
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