More Housing for Strathcona County Seniors on the Way

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

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

STRATHCONA COUNTY, AB, July 24, 2018 /CNW/ - The Governments of Canada and Alberta are making lives better for seniors in Strathcona County and surrounding communities with the groundbreaking of the new Clover Bar Lodge. One hundred forty-four new units will offer increased living space for seniors and allow them to remain close to their families and communities.

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Natural Resources, 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 Annie McKitrick, MLA for Sherwood Park, made the announcement today. The new Clover Bar Lodge is expected to welcome residents in spring 2020.

Quotes:

"Seniors have contributed so much to our communities, and making sure they have safe and affordable housing is one small way we can give back to them. Today's groundbreaking celebration brings us another step closer to adding a new seniors lodge here in Strathcona County. This much-needed redevelopment project will help safeguard the housing needs of seniors in this community for many years to come." — The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Natural Resources

"Seniors should be able to age in their communities, close to loved ones. The new Clover Bar Lodge means seniors in Sherwood Park can stay near to their friends, family and the place they call home. I am proud of our government's commitment to put people first." — David Eggen, Acting Minister of Seniors and Housing

"We are moving forward on our shared goal, which is to enable seniors to live independently in their community. There are now nearly 14,000 residents over the age of 65 who call Strathcona County home. This number is expected to increase to one in five residents by 2031. The new building will provide an affordable option for a very important generation to continue to live in Strathcona County." — Mayor Rod Frank, Strathcona County

"We are pleased to see this day for the benefit of our community and the residents we serve. We recognize the support and collaboration of our various partners in bringing this project to reality. The replacement of Clover Bar Lodge with this new Lodge will provide residents with larger, brighter rooms and increase our capacity to provide options for affordable housing for seniors." — Lynn Olenek, Executive Director, Heartland Housing Foundation

Quick facts:

• The governments of Canada and Alberta provided a combined investment of $32 million for this redevelopment project, under the Investment in Affordable Housing 2014-2019 Agreement.
• The new Clover Bar Lodge replaces the existing facility, with capacity increasing from 79 to 144 units.
• 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 Government of Alberta launched the province's first Provincial Affordable Housing Strategy last year, committing an historic $1.2 billion for affordable housing across the province.

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.

The Alberta Ministry of Seniors and Housing fosters the development of affordable housing and supports access to housing options for Albertans most in need. To achieve these outcomes, the ministry works with seniors, Albertans who require housing supports, their families and caregivers, communities and other government partners. A more detailed description of the ministry and its programs and initiatives can be found at www.seniors-housing.gov.ab.ca.

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

For further information: Media contacts: Michael Brewster, Office of Minister Duclos, 613-220-5956, [e-mail]; Leonard Catling, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 604-787-1787, [e-mail]; Kirk Heuser, Director of Communications, Alberta Seniors and Housing, 780-887-8017, [e-mail]

Related Links

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