The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador are investing more than $1 million in equally cost-shared renovation and retrofit funding for 183 Newfoundland Labrador Housing social and community-based housing units in the Central region. This funding, which is part of the federal and provincial affordable housing investment announced in May 2009, is significantly extending the life of these homes.
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC); and the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, announced the funding today.
“The Government of Canada is proud to have contributed to the renovation and retrofitting of 183 homes,” said Minister MacKay. “The renovations to the units are helping to provide quality, affordable housing for families and individuals in the central region, while also contributing to the economic and social well-being of communities throughout the province.”
“This work is part of a long-term comprehensive renovation and retrofit program which includes significant funding to help ensure that we have affordable social housing that lasts well into the future,” said Minister King. “Since April 2009, approximately 563 social or community-based housing properties have been renovated in the Central region, under this program.”
The funding was made available through Canada’s Economic Action Plan the Federal Government’s plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession. Overall, the Economic Action Plan, includes $2 billion for the construction of new and the renovation of existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in low-cost loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment of $58 million under the amended Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Affordable Housing Program Agreement.
The Government of Canada wants to improve the quality of existing social housing for low-income seniors, single-parent families, recent immigrants and Aboriginal households. Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides $850 million under the Affordable Housing Initiative to provinces and territories for the renovation and retrofit of existing social housing.
The funding is being used for the replacement of exterior components such as roofing, siding, windows and doors, and interior components such as flooring, drywall, cupboards, counters and fixtures such as tubs, sinks and showers.
As part of Budget 2010: The Right Investments – For Our Children and Our Future, the Provincial Government is investing $27 million for housing infrastructure projects, affordable housing and increased maintenance funding over the fiscal year. This renovation and retrofit work is also in keeping with the goals of the Provincial Government’s Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador, Secure Foundations, which outlines a new long-term vision for social housing aimed at improving the housing circumstances of lower-income households and helping to create healthier communities. A copy of the social housing plan is available at: SocialHousingPlanReport2011
Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada’s commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless. More information on this and other measures in Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Federal Government’s plan to stimulate the economy and protect those hit hardest by the global recession, can be found at: www.actionplan.gc.ca.
To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan.
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Media contacts:
Bradley Power
Director of Communications
Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
709-729-0753, 699-5707
bradleypower@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Communications Manager
Newfoundland Labrador Housing
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Katherine LeBlanc
Communications and Marketing Consultant
CMHC
902-426-6581
krleblan@cmhc.ca
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary, Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
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BACKGROUNDER CBH denotes Community-Based Housing projects
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In Corner Brook today, the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, announced $247,000 for three non-profit organizations working to curb homelessness in their community. The three are among 18 non-profit organizations throughout the province benefiting from nearly $2 million in grant funding awarded under Newfoundland Labrador Housing’s Provincial Homelessness Fund (PHF) over the past two years.
Minister King announced $200,000 for the Community Mental Health Initiative, $32,000 for the Corner Brook Status of Women Council, and $15,000 for the Salvation Army.
“We are quite fortunate to have a significant number of very active community partners who accomplish great work in communities throughout our province, including the City of Corner Brook,” said Minister King. “We are pleased to support their common goal of alleviating or preventing homelessness through grants from the Provincial Homelessness Fund.”
Under the PHF, registered non-profit groups can receive up to a maximum of $200,000 per recipient in a given fiscal year. The funding is provided to assist the groups with the costs associated with developing support services to provide on-site outreach services, and promote housing stability for those at risk of homelessness.
In addition, eligible non-profit groups may qualify for funding of up to $10,000 towards the purchase of commercial appliances including dishwashers, stoves and refrigerators. This funding would typically be used by groups who operate soup kitchens, food banks or similar programs. Non-profit groups who do not own the property they are proposing to renovate may also be eligible for a maximum of $25,000 for renovations.
“I am pleased to see this investment in these three very worthwhile projects in Corner Brook,” said the Honourable Tom Marshall, Minister of Finance and MHA for Humber East. “Each of these non-profit groups works extremely hard to reach out to people in our community who find themselves homeless or on the brink of homelessness, and their efforts deserve to be financially supported as well as applauded.”
“The Salvation Army is pleased to receive such an important financial contribution towards the delivery of services to our clients,” said Major Larry Goudie, the Salvation Army’s social services co-ordinator in Corner Brook. “This funding directly benefits everyone who walks in our door. To that end, we thank Newfoundland Labrador Housing and the Provincial Government for their support.”
A Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador, Secure Foundations outlines a long-term vision for social housing aimed at improving the housing circumstances of low-income households and helping to create healthier communities. In Budget 2010: The Right Investments – For Our Children and Our Future, the Provincial Government is investing $27 million for housing infrastructure projects, affordable housing and increased maintenance funding. Newfoundland Labrador Housing is the province’s largest landlord with approximately 5,511 affordable social housing dwellings province-wide.
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Media contacts:
Bradley Power
Director of Communications
Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
709-729-0753, 699-5707
bradleypower@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland Labrador Housing
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Lary Wells
Executive Assistant to
the Honourable Tom Marshall
MHA for Humber East
709-729-3811, 709-632-9634
larrywells@gov.nl.ca
Major Larry Goudie
Salvation Army Social Services Coordinator, Corner Brook
709-639-8632
Larry_Goudie@can.salvationarmy.org