The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Housing and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, joins all levels of government throughout Canada in recognizing today (November 22) as National Housing Day.

To help address housing and homelessness, and ultimately the well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, the Provincial Government is working closely with community partners and other levels of government.  Examples of some of the work underway include:

Provincially owned homes

• Funding for more than 100 new homes in Corner Brook, Central Newfoundland, and Labrador West through Budget 2024.
• Completed construction of eight homes in St. John’s and 16 homes in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
• Construction is underway on 32 homes in St. John’s, while pre-development work is ongoing for a 40-unit apartment building in St. John’s.
• Refurbished more than 200 provincially owned homes in 2024-25 through an increased budget for repairs and renovations.
• Modernizing and upgrading more than 850 provincially owned homes over three years in partnership with the Federal Government.

Incentivizing community and private sector housing development

• Community and private sector projects under the Affordable Rental Housing Program will create approximately 850 affordable rental units.
• Under the Provincial Government’s Five-Point Plan, private sector partners will construct an estimated 450 new rental units through the Rental Housing Development Loan Program.
• The Five-Point Plan also made Provincial Government-owned land available in St. John’s, with five projects conditionally approved to construct an estimated 300 new rental units.
• Introduced the Community Housing Growth Fund in partnership with the national Community Housing Transformation Centre, which supports community affordable housing projects with funding for planning and pre-development work.

Community partnerships

• Partnered with End Homelessness St. John’s on Horizons at 106, a transitional living program which is currently serving close to 60 individuals and has helped an additional seven individuals successfully move into more stable housing.
• Partnered with The Gathering Place on Mercy House and O’Callaghan’s Haven, an expansion that will see 90 individuals receive emergency shelter, transitional and supportive housing supports.
• Partnered with the Central Residential Services Board to create a Transitional Housing Initiative in Gander.
• Released shelter standards, developed after extensive consultations with community partners, and will undertake implementation in consultation with these same partners.

Affordability

• 271 families have been approved for loans under the First-Time Home-Buyers Program, with 168 already purchasing homes.
• A Secondary and Basement Suites Incentive has been launched to provide homeowners with a forgivable loan for the construction of affordable rental units within their home.
• Partnered with Federal Government to expand the Canada-Newfoundland Housing Benefit, providing housing supports for survivors of gender-based violence. This expansion is expected to support over 580 individuals or households over five years.

Every year, November 22 is National Housing Day – a day dedicated to raising awareness about housing and homelessness throughout Canada. National Housing Day calls on the entire housing sector – including governments, financial organizations, developers, communities, and Indigenous and other partners – to work together to develop impactful solutions and ensure that every Canadian has a safe and affordable home.

Quote
“Our government recognizes that there isn’t one single approach that can address our current housing challenges. In partnership with other levels of government, and community and private sector partners, we’ve actioned a diverse range of initiatives. On this National Housing Day, we reflect on our progress while recognizing that we must maintain this momentum to improve access to safe and affordable housing for all.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Housing and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions

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Learn more
16 New Affordable Rental Homes Coming to Happy Valley Goose Bay

Provincial Government Issues RFP to Build 50 New Homes in Corner Brook

Contracts Awarded to Construct New Homes in Labrador West

Funding Approved for Three Projects Through Newfoundland and Labrador Community Housing Growth Fund

Five-Point Plan Supporting Families in Securing First Home, Promoting Creation of Hundreds of Affordable Rental Housing Builds

Federal-Provincial Partnership Will Provide Rent Support for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence

Provincial Government Investing in Transitional Housing Initiative in Gander

Provincial Government Releases Shelter Standards

Provincial Government to Partner with End Homelessness St. John’s to Operate the Transitional Supportive Living Initiative

Federal and Provincial Governments Sign Agreement to Support Modernization of NLHC Homes

Eight New Homes in St. John’s Highlight Continued Progress on Affordable Housing Development in Newfoundland and Labrador

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