Federal and Provincial Governments Support Housing in Four Saskatchewan Communities

Logo: Government of Canada (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)

Logo: Government of Saskatchewan (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)

REGINA, Feb. 22, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan are working together to deliver more affordable housing solutions for households in greatest need in four Saskatchewan communities with a combined investment of over $4.4 million.

This latest funding initiative will help create new affordable housing units through five projects in four communities:

• $1 million to The Elizabeth – Retirement Community Project in Humboldt to repurpose the existing St. Elizabeth's convent to create 26 independent living units with some supports and 25 units for low income seniors.
• $368,000 towards Star Court, Stewart Property Holding's renovation of 16 units for individuals in need of independent housing in Saskatoon.
• $470,000 to Oxford House Society Inc. in Regina to purchase two homes with a combined total of 10 bedrooms for members who require social and addictions supports.
• $630,500 to RiverBank Development Corporation in Prince Albert to purchase six single family dwellings for large families in need of adequate housing.

The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with the Honourable Paul Merriman, Minister of Social Services and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC), and His Worship Michael Fougere, Mayor of the City of Regina, made the announcement at the opening of the Halifax Holding's project located at 1914 Halifax Street in Regina.

Quick Facts

• The federal and provincial governments, through CMHC and SHC, are jointly contributing over $2 million to Halifax Holdings West Inc. for 20 affordable housing units within the 45-unit project under the Canada-Saskatchewan Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) 2014-2019 Agreement. The City of Regina committed to providing $705,000 to the project.
• All units in the building are approximately 350 square feet (32.5 square metres) in size. The building has an elevator and is within walking distance of services and amenities.
• All 45 tenants are anticipated to be supported by Phoenix Residential Society. SHC and CMHC are funding 20 of the units and Halifax Holdings West Inc. is funding 25. Tenants will be identified by Phoenix Residential Society which will tailor supports to the individual's needs.
• This investment supports the Saskatchewan Housing Strategy and Poverty Reduction Strategy goal of ensuring Saskatchewan people have affordable, safe, secure and stable housing.
• Canada's first ever National Housing Strategy is a 10-year, $40-billion plan that will give more Canadians a place to call home. Under the National Housing Strategy, the federal government will recognize and progressively implement every Canadian's right to access housing that meets their needs and that they can afford.

Quotes

"Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. We're proud to announce the opening of 1914 Halifax Street today, and the funding for four more affordable housing projects in Regina, Saskatoon, Humboldt and Prince Albert that will make a big difference for many people in these communities. And there's more to come. The Government of Canada's first ever National Housing Strategy will invest $40 billion over the next 10 years to reduce homelessness and improve the availability and quality of housing for Canadians in need all across the country." — The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness  

"Providing housing opportunities for people in greatest housing need is a goal that we all share. This project, and others like it, are a wonderful example of partners coming together with a common vision—to improve the quality of life of Saskatchewan people. We are pleased to work with our partners to achieve this vision and to continue to keep Saskatchewan strong." — Honourable Paul Merriman, Minister of Social Services and Minister Responsible for SHC

"Our City Council recognizes that housing is a top priority for our community. Working with proven partners like Halifax Holdings West, Oxford House Society, and Phoenix Residential, which are actively making a difference in Regina every day, means residents can be confident these investments will make a significant impact for those in need of affordable and hard-to-house units." — His Worship Michael Fougere, Mayor, City of Regina

"This project brought together private and public resources, both financial and overall project design. By working together, we were able to build a larger facility with specific design considerations and embrace adaptable principles. The people and organizations that have supported this project shared their knowledge of housing challenges in meeting affordable and hard-to-house residences. This was invaluable as the project was imagined, developed, financed, built and now to be realized." — Stephen Onda, President, Halifax Holdings West Inc.

Associated Links:

• As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. For more information, please call 1-800-668-2642 or follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.
• In October 2012, the Government of Saskatchewan released the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth: Vision 2020 and Beyond, which sets out the Government's vision for a province of 1.2 million people by 2020. The Plan identifies principles, goals and actions to ensure Saskatchewan is capturing the opportunities and meeting the challenges of a growing province. Since 2007, the Government of Saskatchewan has invested over $770 million to develop or repair almost 16,000 housing units across our province. To learn more, visit www.saskatchewan.ca.

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

For further information: Media Contacts: Émilie Gauduchon, Office of Minister Duclos, 819-654-5546, [e-mail]; Gabriel Teo, CMHC, 604-737-4137, [e-mail]; Leya Moore, Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services, 306-787-3610, [e-mail]

Related Links

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca