The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador today announced a combined investment of more than $68 million over five years to help more individuals and families access affordable housing and renovate their existing homes. The funding will be delivered through an extension to the Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) agreement, administered in this province through Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC).
“Our government has made historic investments in housing to create better economic outcomes for Canadian families. The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador will be able to direct this new funding into housing solutions that best meet their local needs and priorities.”
– The Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development)
Under the IAH agreement, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador can design and deliver a range of affordable housing programs to address local housing needs and priorities. The agreement will enable NLHC to continue partnering with affordable housing developers in the private and non-profit supportive living sectors by investing $27 million to construct about 590 new affordable housing units province-wide. The remaining $41 million will be invested in the Provincial Home Repair Program. Administered and delivered by Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, this program provides financial assistance for renovations and repairs for low-income households thereby enabling them to remain in their own homes longer.
“Providing affordable housing is a challenge that all governments face, and it is important that we work together to identify solutions. This unprecedented five-year Investment in Affordable Housing agreement will significantly improve our ability to offer more affordable rental housing options and enhance our Provincial Home Repair Program for those most in need.”
– The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development, Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities, and Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
A key objective for the Provincial Government is to stimulate the development of affordable rental housing by the private, public and non-profit sectors. Priority is placed on developing rental housing for persons with complex needs, persons with disabilities, seniors and people who require support to live independently in the community. By the end of 2019, a total of 1,700 new affordable homes will have been created under the IAH program.
“I am pleased that our governments continue to invest in housing to improve the lives of Canadians; especially here in Newfoundland and Labrador. This investment will ensure that people in this province continue to have access to safe and affordable housing.”
– The Honourable Rob Moore, Regional Minister for Newfoundland and Labrador and Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
On August 16, 2011, the Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador announced an IAH agreement with a combined investment of some $41 million for the 2011-2014 period. This new agreement extends the original agreement for the 2014-2019 period, with an additional combined investment of more than $68 million. From April 2011 to September 2014, the IAH has already helped close to 213,000 households nationally, including almost 6,400 in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“The Provincial Government, through Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, invests significantly in social housing. This federal-provincial agreement will provide more affordable homes for seniors and others in housing need, and enable more individuals and families to repair their own homes and continue living in their communities.”
– The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Annually, the Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), will invest approximately $2 billion in housing. These investments improve the quality of life for low-income Canadians 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. Economic Action Plan 2013 continued this commitment with a federal investment of more than $1.25 billion over five years to renew the Investment in Affordable Housing to 2019. The Government of Canada will ensure that funds provided to provinces and territories support the use of apprentices, which will support training of skilled labour.
To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC help Canadians meet their housing needs, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca . For more information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, call 1-800-O-Canada or visit www.actionplan.gc.ca .
QUICK FACTS
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Media contacts:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
709-729-0928, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Communications Manager
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Katherine LeBlanc
Consultant, Communications and Marketing
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
902-426-6581
krleblan@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
Kevin Guest
Director of Communications
Department of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs
709-729-1983, 730-2320
kevinjguest@gov.nl.ca
IAH Agreement Signing
The Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development) and the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development, sign a $68 million federal-provincial Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement in St. John’s – November 28, 2014.
A Provincial Government investment of close to $678,000 through Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation’s Provincial Homelessness Fund will enable nine non-profit groups throughout the province to improve services for those at risk of homelessness. The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, made the announcement today at the Choices for Youth offices on Duckworth Street in St. John’s.
“This investment shows the Provincial Government’s continued commitment to improving the well-being of our most vulnerable citizens. We are proud of the great work done by our non-profit partners throughout the province, and the positive changes made possible by the Provincial Homelessness Fund.”
– The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
A listing of 2014-15 Provincial Homelessness Fund recipients (to date) can be viewed in the backgrounder below.
In recent years, Choices for Youth has received $400,000 in capital funding through the Provincial Homelessness Fund to upgrade the Duckworth Street offices. The Provincial Homelessness Fund’s annual $1 million budget provides registered non-profit groups with capital funding to assist with the provision of on-site and outreach services which promote housing stability for those at risk of homelessness. Since 2009, 73 grants totalling $5.8 million have been provided through the Provincial Homelessness Fund to 45 non-profit organizations, province-wide.
“At the end of the day, at Choices for Youth, this is about the young people in our community who are at-risk and homeless and want to build a better life for themselves. At Choices, we provide a system of supports to help them achieve that goal. In the past year, we’ve supported and worked with over 700 individuals at risk of homelessness. The Provincial Homelessness Fund is part of what makes that possible.”
– Sheldon Pollett, Executive Director, Choices for Youth
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 creating healthier communities.
QUICK FACTS
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Media contacts:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
709-729-0928, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Ayon Shahed
Senior Fund Developer and Communications Manager
Choices for Youth
709-682-2738
ashahed@choicesforyouth.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Provincial Homelessness Fund Recipients to Date – 2014-2015
| Recpients | Funding |
| Aunt Jean’s Place, Stephenville | $81,500 |
| Anglican Parish of Bell Island | $23,500 |
| Anglican Parish of the Resurrection, South River | $33,000 |
| REACH Board, Clarenville | $80,000 |
| Labrador West Housing and Homelessness Coalition, Labrador City | $225,000 |
| Gathering Place, St. John’s | $200,000 |
| Salvation Army, Adams Avenue Food Bank, St. John’s | $6,800 |
| Salvation Army Family Services, Clarenville | $25,000 |
| Peninsula Used Clothing and Food Bank, Baie Verte | $3,000 |