Governments Break Ground on 11 Habitat for Humanity Homes in Regina

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

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

REGINA, Sept. 27, 2018 /CNW/ - Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for 11 hard-working Regina families, as 11 new Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) homes officially broke ground. The units are part of Haultain Crossing, Habitat's multi-unit family housing development which will house a total of 62 Habitat partner families upon completion.

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 today.

Quotes:

"All Canadians deserve access to housing. All over the country our Government is collaborating with partners like Habitat to produce positive housing outcomes for families. Adding another 11 homes to Haultain Crossing is a real shot in the arm for this project, and another positive step for our efforts to address the community's housing needs." — Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"Our government is pleased to support Habitat's work in Saskatchewan. Together with our partners, we are helping Saskatchewan families in greatest housing need to live in dignity, safety and comfort. This initiative, and others throughout the province, supports our goal of keeping Saskatchewan strong and moving forward." — Honourable Paul Merriman, Minister of Social Services and Minister responsible for SHC

"The Habitat for Humanity model has been proven time and again, and we have already heard many success stories coming out of Haultain Crossing. I am proud of the City of Regina for supporting the next phase of this project, and I am sure the next 11 families will be excited to begin work on their new homes." — His Worship Michael Fougere, Mayor, City of Regina

"By providing an interest free, zero down payment mortgage that is set at 25 percent of the family's income, our homeownership program allows families to have a better quality of life and begin building equity in their future. Thanks to the support of our amazing donors and volunteers, these 11 new families are beginning a journey that will provide strength, stability and self-reliance." — Kelly Holmes-Binns, CEO, Habitat for Humanity Regina

Quick facts:

• The Government of Canada, through CMHC, and the Government of Saskatchewan, through SHC, jointly contributed $675,000 to build these homes under the Canada-Saskatchewan Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement.
• The City of Regina provided funding of $15,000 for each of these 11 homes for a total of $165,000.
• Main private sponsors for the 11 units include Farm Credit Canada (FCC), Sherwood Co-op Gas and Food Stores, Co-op Refinery Complex, and The Mosaic Company.
• Habitat and the Trade and Skills Construction Apprenticeship Program (TASCAP) are partnering together to engage and train high school students during construction of the 11 houses. Students will receive on the job training and are on-site daily for an entire semester during construction. Qualified instructors will lead students through the build from the foundation up, while students earn credits through the program and apprenticeship hours that can be put towards future training in trades.
• Located at 1033 Edgar Street, Haultain Crossing will contain 62 townhouse-style condominiums located in Regina's Eastview neighbourhood upon completion. Together, the main and upper floors of each home will total 1,216 ft² or 113 m². Homes assigned to larger families will have a partially finished basement.
• The Government of Canada is currently rolling out its National Housing Strategy (NHS), an ambitious 10-year, $40 billion plan that will create 100,000 new housing units and lift 530,000 families out of housing need, as well as repair and renew more than 300,000 housing units and reduce chronic homelessness by 50 percent.
• The NHS is built on strong partnerships between federal, provincial and territorial governments, and on continuous engagement with others, including municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, and the social and private sectors to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians.
• The Province's overall commitment to Habitat totals $10.85 million since March 2009. This total includes $1 million announced with the 2018-2019 provincial budget, with funding from the Canada-Saskatchewan Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement.
• This investment also supports Saskatchewan's Housing Strategy and Poverty Reduction Strategy goal of ensuring Saskatchewan people have access to affordable, safe, secure and stable housing.
• Each partner family selected by Habitat for Humanity contributes 500 partnering hours in building their home or other Habitat homes. The family purchases their home at fair market value, paying an interest-free, zero down-payment mortgage set at 25 percent of their annual gross income. To learn more about Habitat for Humanity and their work across Saskatchewan, visit www.habitat.ca.

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 visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

To find out more about the NHS, visit www.placetocallhome.ca.

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 more than $780 million to develop or repair more than 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: Valérie Glazer, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, 819-654-5546, [email protected]; Leonard Catling, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 604-787-1787, [email protected]; Leya Moore, Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services, 306-787-3610, [email protected]

Related Links

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