Announcing the Canada – Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Benefit

Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. That is why the Government of Canada partnered with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to provide additional support to thousands of low-income households across the province.

Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the Honourable Seamus O’Regan Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl, and the Honourable John Abbott, Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, announced an 8-year, $74.4 million investment in the Canada – Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Benefit (CA-NL HB) to support over 2,600 households across the province.

The Canada Housing Benefit is a National Housing Strategy program funded by the Government of Canada and cost-matched by Newfoundland and Labrador.
In addition, the CA-NL HB is intended to address rental instability among certain target groups such as women and children experiencing or at risk of domestic violence, seniors, Indigenous peoples, peoples with disabilities, those dealing with mental health and addiction issues, homeless individuals and those at risk of homelessness, racialized communities, veterans, young adults, among others.

Quotes
“Our Government is committed to ensuring that every Canadian has a safe and affordable place to call home and we recognize the long-standing need for predictable funding for housing. Today, we are taking another significant step toward our goal of building strong communities where the people of Newfoundland and Labrador continue to prosper and thrive, now and for generations to come.”
The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)

“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. This $74.4 million dollar investment will provide housing stability, combat homelessness and support those who need it most. This will improve the quality of life for people in our Province and give everyone an equal chance at success.”
The Honourable Seamus O’Regan Minister of Natural Resources, Member of Parliament for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl

“Through this partnership, which comes into effect in September 2021, we will provide access to safe, adequate, and affordable housing to over 2,600 low-income households over the next seven years. Working together with our federal partners, these investments will help to provide housing for many individuals and families — a place to call home — which is essential to their social, financial and physical well-being. Together we are making a real difference in lives of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
The Honourable John Abbott, Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation

– 30 –

Learn more
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. CMHC’s aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home they can afford, and that meets their needs. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit www.placetocallhome.ca.

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @CSSD_GovNL

Media contacts
Michelle Hunt-Grouchy
Children, Seniors and Social Development
709-729-5148, 682-6593
michellehuntgrouchy@gov.nl.ca

Hafsah Asadullah
Communications Assistant
Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
hafsah.asadullah@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
media@cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Federal-Provincial Governments Announce Funding to Support Housing Solutions for Vulnerable Populations

Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. That’s why the Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador, through a partnership of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation and End Homelessness St. John’s,  are supporting 12 community organizations to extend COVID-19 responses to address the on-going needs of people experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness. These projects will focus on homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing and promotion of housing stability.

A combined investment of approximately $1 million will support the implementation of these 12 community-based projects, through the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Bi-lateral Agreement under the National Housing Strategy, and Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy through Employment and Social Development Canada.

End Homelessness St. John’s issued a proposal call to the St. John’s Housing and Homelessness sector in March 2021, and the successful community organizations were selected through a joint review process. A list of community organizations receiving funding can be viewed in the back-grounder below. Projects have commenced with funding approved until March 31, 2022.

Today, the Provincial Government also launched a $1.5 million proposal call under the federal government’s National Housing Strategy through the Provincial Housing and Homelessness Partnership Fund. The fund is designed to support projects throughout the province which leverage partnerships and strengthen capacity of the community housing sector to provide housing options for low-income households. The fund targets supports to women and children fleeing domestic violence, Indigenous peoples, seniors, young adults, persons with disabilities, persons experiencing mental health and addictions issues, and persons experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness.

The fund is seeking proposals for partnerships from proponents, including Indigenous and non-profit organizations, and municipalities. Applications may be advanced under two funding streams: Capital Contributions stream or Creative and Innovative Solutions stream, with maximum one-time funding of $250,000 per project. Further information on the proposal call, including the funding application, can be found: Here. Applications close August 31, 2021.

This builds on the Government of Canada’s record of supporting housing projects across the country, and right here in Newfoundland and Labrador. This includes $5 million to build a minimum of 14 new permanent and affordable homes in St. John’s in the next 12 months, and $18.5 million in cost-shared funding with the Provincial Government, announced earlier this year to complete repairs to Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation’s social housing units in 2021-22 throughout the province, including vacancies requiring major repairs in order to be available to new tenants.  This includes repairs to reopen 10 homes in Labrador West and three homes in Nain for families in need. The Government of Canada is committed to providing safe, stable and affordable housing to give everyone a fair chance at success.

QUOTES

“Working together with our federal and community partners, these investments will help to secure safe, stable and affordable housing for many individuals and families – a place to call home – which is essential to their social, financial and physical well-being.  Together we are making a real difference in their lives.”

Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation

“Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. That’s why we are proud to partner in these important initiatives as we increase the supply of affordable housing and give peace of mind and stability to the families in Newfoundland and Labrador. When we strengthen our communities, we build hope and a better Canada. This is the National Housing Strategy at work.”

Honourable Ahmed Hussen
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. These 12 local projects will provide housing stability, combat homelessness and support those who need it most. This will improve the quality of life for people in our Province and give everyone an equal chance at success.”

Honourable Seamus O’Regan
Minister of Natural Resources
Member of Parliament for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl

“Aligning our investments with our provincial and federal partners provides the community with much needed additional resources to serve our most vulnerable neighbours. Investing in a wide-range of supports and services will no doubt lead to successful housing outcomes for those who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.”

Doug Pawson
Executive Director
End Homelessness St. John’s

Learn more

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL, @CSSD_GovNL and @nlhousing

Visit cmhc.ca or follow on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit www.placetocallhome.ca.

– 30 –

Media contacts

Jenny Bowring
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055

jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER