To support community housing providers in the development of affordable housing projects, the Provincial Government is today announcing a partnership with the Community Housing Transformation Centre (CHTC) to establish a $1.5 million Newfoundland and Labrador Community Housing Growth Fund.
The fund will support non-profit, co-operative and Indigenous organizations and registered charities pursuing the creation of affordable housing with planning and pre-development work, allowing them to take advantage of funding opportunities from all levels of government.
Organizations will be supported by CHTC’s program managers from their initial project conceptualization, with the goal of helping to shape project development and improve the rate of project success.
Funding is available to support a wide range of planning and pre-development activities, which often serve as a barrier for community housing providers to advance projects. Eligible expenses include:
The $1.5 million invested in the fund includes $1.25 million from the Provincial Government and a $250,000 contribution from CHTC.
The Community Housing Transformation Centre is a Canadian non-profit organization that was founded in 2018 by a network of organizations that represent and serve the needs of Canada’s community-housing sector. The group has supported a number of organizations throughout Newfoundland and Labrador in recent years, including Stella’s Circle, the St. John’s Status of Women Council, The Gathering Place, Choices for Youth and End Homelessness St. John’s.
Groups interested in applying for support under the program can visit the CHTC website.
The Provincial Government continues to invest in the growth of the community housing sector. The Affordable Rental Housing Program includes conditional approval for seven affordable community housing sector projects that would see 130 new homes constructed in six different communities.
Quotes
“Through this partnership, we will empower community housing providers to overcome barriers that often stand in the way of moving important projects forward. Growing the community housing sector is key to increasing the overall supply of long-term affordable housing throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Fred Hutton
Minister of Housing
“We are very pleased to be supporting non-profit housing providers and co-ops through the new Community Housing Growth Fund. We are proud to be part of this important initiative to strengthen the community housing sector in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Stephan Richard
Development Director, Community Housing Transformation Centre
-30-
Learn more
Provincial Government Announces Results of RFP for Affordable Rental Housing Program
Follow us on X at @GovNL and @NLHousing
Like us on Facebook
Media contacts
Marc Budgell
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing
709-724-3025, 709-727-5843
mtbudgell@nlhc.nl.ca
Jean-François Fayad
Community Housing Transformation Centre
1-833-360-3967 x112
f.fayad@centre.support
The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Fred Hutton, Minister of Housing:
Speaker, it is my privilege to rise and recognize April 14 to 20 as National Volunteer Week here in Newfoundland and Labrador.
National Volunteer Week recognizes and celebrates every volunteer, and their contributions to strengthen inclusivity and well-being in our communities. The theme for National Volunteer Week 2024 is “Every Moment Matters,” signifying the importance of every moment that a volunteer gives their time, their skills, their creativity and their empathy to help others.
In a few short weeks as Minister of Housing, I’ve seen first-hand the incredible, positive impacts that volunteers have across our housing continuum.
The volunteer staff and boards at community centres throughout the province provide supports that foster a deep sense of community, becoming the focal point for community life. Last week I had the pleasure of visiting Vine Place Community Centre in Corner Brook, and it was evident how the work of the team there is shaping and supporting that community.
I also want to recognize all community partners in the housing and homelessness sector, including the volunteers and Boards associated with non-profit community housing projects. The efforts of these volunteers and community agencies are instrumental in helping many individuals overcome barriers and transform lives.
To all volunteers across every sector in this province, thank you for your dedication to your fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
The Provincial Government is today announcing a partnership with End Homelessness St. John’s to operate a Transitional Supportive Living Initiative at 106 Airport Road in St. John’s. The partnership will help individuals experiencing homelessness who require housing and wrap-around supports receive the assistance they need from trained staff with sector expertise and experience.
In this role, End Homelessness St. John’s will oversee the operations of the facility, managing coordination with key partners, including Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NL Health Services), community partners and security services.
The Honourable Fred Hutton, Minister of Housing, and the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, will join Doug Pawson, Executive Director of End Homelessness St. John’s and Ron Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, Eastern Urban Zone, NL Health Services for a media availability today at 11:00 a.m. at 106 Airport Road, St. John’s. Following the availability, members of the media will be invited to tour the facility.
The Transitional Supportive Living Initiative fills a current gap in the housing system for individuals experiencing homelessness with complex needs who require not only a safe place to live, but also wrap-around supports. It will provide a pathway for individuals to successfully transition to more independent and stable housing in the future. The initiative will:
A collaborative intake process will be used to select residents, which will follow the established Coordinated Access system currently used by End Homelessness St. John’s and community partners. This process will be designed to reflect the best practices identified by community partners locally.
Project implementation will occur in a phased approach for both intake and staffing. This approach will allow the organization to pay close attention to the mix of residents, their level of need and available rooms and support.
The facility includes over 140 rooms and common areas for service delivery. In addition to staffing and intake, End Homelessness St. John’s will work to design tenant-led site programming, which will be integrated with community programming. This may include cultural support, peer support, counselling and life skills development. At the same time, NL Health Services will provide wrap-around health care services to those on-site, including harm reduction, primary health care, case management, mental health and addiction services and social navigation.
The Provincial Government will maintain an oversight and monitoring role for the project, ensuring that the project is meeting its intended outcomes.
Quotes
“We are pleased to expand our partnership with End Homelessness St. John’s. This organization is well positioned to lead the coordination and integration of system-wide planning to support those experiencing homelessness in transitioning to more secure, long-term solutions.”
Honourable Fred Hutton
Minister of Housing
“This new initiative will expand the housing continuum in the province, and is another example of how, in working with dedicated community partners, we can find creative solutions to addressing the issue of homelessness.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure
“End Homelessness St. John’s is pleased to lead the operations of the Transitional Supportive Living Initiative. The strategic integration of housing, health and community support in this initiative is transformative for our community and province. At the foundation of this initiative is strong partnerships between NL Housing, NL Health Services, End Homelessness St. John’s and our many community partners which demonstrate that when we work together, we can improve housing and health outcomes for our most vulnerable neighbours.”
Doug Pawson
Executive Director, End Homelessness St. John’s
“NL Health Services is pleased to work with our partners to explore different models of health-care delivery that support the well-being of every person. The transitional supportive living facility on Airport Road will provide an opportunity to implement a housing-first model of care, where comprehensive health services will focus on life skills development from a trauma-informed lens.”
Ron Johnson
Chief Operating Officer – Eastern Urban Zone, NL Health Services
-30-
Learn more
Provincial Government Announces Partnership for Transitional Supportive Living Arrangements
Follow us on X at @GovNL and @NLHousing
Like us on Facebook
Media contacts
Marc Budgell
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing
709-724-3025, 709-727-5843
mtbudgell@nlhc.nl.ca
Melony O’Neill
Transportation and Infrastructure
709-729-3015, 709-689-0928
melonyoneill@gov.nl.ca
Doug Pawson
End Homelessness St. John’s
709-770-4902
dpawson@wecanendit.com
Mikaela Etchegary
NL Health Services
709-853-5206
mikaela.etchegary@easternhealth.ca
As part of Budget 2024’s record investment in housing, the Provincial Government is investing $20 million to construct 50 provincially owned units in Corner Brook, helping to increase access to stable, safe and affordable housing for individuals and families in the western region.
The project will include multi-unit buildings that feature a combination of one- and two-bedroom homes, the greatest area of need in the current social housing portfolio. The majority of these homes will be built in the Crestview Avenue area of Corner Brook. The project scope will also include the demolition of 32 existing long-term vacancies in the area, paving the way for new modern, accessible and energy efficient homes.
The Honourable Fred Hutton, Minister of Housing, was in Corner Brook today to highlight this important investment in the community. Minister Hutton was joined by the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills and MHA for Corner Brook, as well as His Worship Jim Parsons, Mayor of Corner Brook, Pamela Gill, Corner Brook councillor and chair of the City of Corner Brook Community Partners Standing Committee, and Jenny Brake, Acting Chief of the Qalipu First Nation.
A tender for the demolition stage of the project will be issued in the coming weeks. A request for proposals for construction will be issued shortly thereafter, and will encourage developers to consider various design approaches, including traditional and modular building methods.
Construction of all 50 homes is anticipated to be complete by 2026.
The Provincial Government continues to invest in programs and projects that will increase access to affordable rental housing throughout the province. This includes 10 projects conditionally approved under the Affordable Rental Housing Program in the western region, as well as a series of actions under the Five-Point Plan to Improve Access to Housing that is Affordable.
Quotes
“Budget 2024 includes the highest-ever provincial investment in housing, helping to support the well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians by increasing access to safe and affordable housing. This investment will support 50 individuals or families in Corner Brook to secure homes they can afford within their existing community.”
Honourable Fred Hutton
Minister of Housing
“This substantial investment will help to address the need for affordable, modern, high-quality, energy-efficient housing options in Corner Brook. These homes will become part of the solution to some of the greatest areas of housing demand. I look forward to seeing these units take shape across Corner Brook and ultimately giving 50 individuals and families access to safe, accessible and affording housing.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills and MHA for Corner Brook
“I am thankful to the province and Minister Hutton for listening to the city and our regional partners and making this significant investment in the region. Fifty units will go a long way in providing necessary affordable housing for people who need it.”
His Worship Jim Parsons
Mayor of Corner Brook
“This investment in housing in the community of Corner Brook is much needed and appreciated. We are guided by the belief that housing is a human right and, as an Indigenous organization, we are pleased to work together with the province to ensure that our community members are supported with access to stable, safe and affordable housing.”
Jenny Brake
Acting Chief, Qalipu First Nation
-30-
Learn more
Budget 2024 – Transforming Our Health. Our Economy. Our Province.
Follow us on X at @GovNL and @NLHousing
Like us on Facebook
Media contacts
Marc Budgell
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing
709-724-3025, 709-727-5843
mtbudgell@nlhc.nl.ca
Ryan Butt
City of Corner Brook
709-632-8113
rbutt@cornerbrook.com
Alison Muise
Qalipu First Nation
709-649-7194
amuise@qalipu.ca