Neighbours and friends gathered to celebrate the official re-opening of the Rabbittown Community Centre in St. John’s today. The Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) recently completed approximately $600,000 in major renovations and accessibility upgrades on the centre, which serves approximately 800 people in the Empire Avenue, Graves Street and Freshwater Road area.
“The Provincial Government is pleased to celebrate the much anticipated reopening of the newly renovated and revitalized Rabbittown Community Centre,” said the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister Responsible for NLHC. “For 26 years this centre has been providing support and opportunities for people of all ages to become more involved in community life and explore their potential. These renovations will enable this facility to be enjoyed for years to come.”
The renovation work completed by J & T Construction Ltd. includes a remodelled multi-purpose room; new windows, doors, siding and roof; enhanced life safety features; upgraded heating systems; and accessible washrooms. As well, an extension has been added for the main entrance, which features a new wider stairwell that will be equipped with a platform stair lift in the coming months to enhance accessibility to the basement and second floor.
“We’re thrilled to be back and looking forward to taking advantage of the amazing renovations – especially the new platform stair lift – to carry on the quality programs and services that can make a positive difference in people’s lives,” said Lilly Lush, Executive Director of the Rabbittown Community Centre. “On behalf of our board of directors, staff and volunteers, and the families who use the centre, we applaud Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation for seeing this project through to completion. Many thanks also to our good friends at the Parish of St. Augustine Church on Westerland Road from where we hosted many programs and special events during construction.”
Rabbittown Community Centre is one of eight community centres throughout the province that are supported by NLHC, along with 10 other neighbourhood centres. Since 1986, the multi-purpose facility and its staff and volunteers have provided recreational, health, educational, social, and career programs to the community. Programs include After School Drop-in, Youth Program, Homework Haven, Healthy Baby Club, Computer Program, Junior Youth Mentoring, Community Kitchen, Career Services, Wellness Programs and Public Health Nursing Clinic.
NLHC is providing substantial investments to upkeep its community centres. Froude Avenue Community Centre in St. John’s is in the midst of a $500,000 makeover, and last month the former Dunfield Park Community Centre in Corner Brook, renamed WestRock Community Centre, and celebrated its official reopening following an $889,000 refurbishment.
A Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador – Secure Foundations, released by the Provincial Government in August 2009, outlines a 10-year vision for social housing. It is aimed at improving the housing circumstances of low-income households and helping create healthier communities. Budget 2012: People and Prosperity allocated $25.9 million for social housing infrastructure, including $10.4 million for maintenance and $12 million for renovations and improvements.
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation is the province’s largest landlord with approximately 5,573 non-profit social housing dwellings province-wide.
– 30 –
Media contacts:
Jason Card
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
729-3015, 699-0470
jasoncard@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Lilly Lush
Executive Director
Rabbittown Community Centre
709-739-8482
lilly@rabbittown.ca
Neighbours and friends gathered to celebrate the official re-opening of the Rabbittown Community Centre. Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) recently completed approximately $600,000 in major renovations and accessibility upgrades on the centre, which serves approximately 800 people in the Empire Avenue, Graves Street and Freshwater Road area.
Area tenants present Lillian Lush, Executive Director of Rabbittown Community Centre, with an appreciation plaque.
The Honourable Paul Davis, Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC), will address attendees at the official reopening of the Rabbittown Community Centre in St. John’s tomorrow (Wednesday, November 28) at 10:30 a.m.
The minister will be joined by NLHC’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Len Simms. The event will be held in the community centre building at 26 Graves Street, St. John’s.
– 30 –
Media contacts:
Jason Card
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 699-0470
jasoncard@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador and the Robert’s Arm Interfaith Seniors Manor celebrated the official opening of four new two-bedroom supportive living units today. The non-profit seniors’ home which has been operating in Robert’s Arm, Notre Dame Bay for 25 years, has expanded for the second time to help individuals who require support to live independently in the community.
The latest expansion, which created four new two-bedroom units, was funded through an equally cost-shared $500,000 investment from the Federal and Provincial Governments through the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Agreement for Investments in Affordable Housing 2011-2014. The funding is administered through Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC).
“With investments in housing projects like these ones, our government is contributing to the economic growth of Newfoundland and Labrador and creating jobs,” said the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). “At the same time, we are ensuring that families and seniors living on low income and people with special needs can benefit from affordable and supportive housing.”
“This project is another success story that is moving the Provincial Government closer to achieving its long-term goal under the Provincial Social Housing Plan of providing quality affordable homes for those in need throughout our province,” said the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. “Having this facility enables people to get the support they need while remaining in their own community and maintain the support of family and friends.”
The Robert’s Arm Seniors Interfaith Manor previously received $1.3 million through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, which was also equally cost-shared by the Federal and Provincial Governments, enabling them to add 10 seniors’ units to their facility in 2010. Together with today’s announcement of another supportive living expansion, the manor’s total capacity is now 35 units.
“We are delighted with the great support we have received from the Federal and Provincial Governments to make this dream a reality,” said Lloyd Colbourne, Chair of Board of Directors of the Robert’s Arm Interfaith Seniors Manor. “We recognize the need in our area for supportive and affordable living accommodations where people with complex needs and senior citizens can live safely and comfortably in the community.”
A key objective for the Provincial Government is to stimulate the development of affordable rental housing by the private, public and non-profit sectors. A priority is placed on developing rental housing for persons with disabilities, seniors and people who require supports to live independently in the community. This work is in keeping with A Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador – Secure Foundations, released by the Provincial Government in August 2009, which outlines a long-term vision for social housing. It is aimed at improving the housing circumstances of people with low incomes and helping create healthier communities. A copy of the social housing plan is available http://nlhc.nl.ca/documents/publications/ShpDocument2009.pdf. 
The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest approximately $2 billion in housing this year. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will be spent in support of almost 605,000 households living in existing social housing. In Newfoundland and Labrador, this represents some 12,250 households. These investments are improving the quality of life for Canadians with low incomes and households living in existing social housing, including individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants, and Aboriginal people.
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.
– 30 –
Media contacts:
Jason Card
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 699-0470
jasoncard@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Communications Manager
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing
Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Caroline Arsenault
Principal, Communications & Marketing
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
902-426-8127
cmarsena@cmhc.ca
Marian Ngo
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Lloyd Colbourne
Chair of the Board of Directors
Robert’s Arm Interfaith Seniors Manor
709-652-3165, 673-7228
Lloyd.colbourne@bellaliant.net