The Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada today announced a new agreement to modernize and upgrade more than 850 Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) homes province-wide. This funding will complement the ongoing work of the Provincial Government to undertake repairs and renovations to its inventory of public housing.
The Affordable Housing Fund (formerly known as the National Housing Co-Investment Fund) includes $8.7 million in federal funding over three years to support renovations or repairs that include energy efficiency and accessibility improvements to existing NLHC homes.
Renovations through this fund will result in a reduction in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of at least 25 per cent from the homes covered by the fund and will result in an additional 170 homes receiving accessibility upgrades.
This funding complements the existing NLHC repairs budget of more than $20 million over that same time period.
In October 2023, the Provincial Government increased the NLHC’s renovations budget by $3 million, allowing for repairs and renovations to an additional 143 homes. As of February 23, work is complete on 123 of these homes and underway on another 19 homes.
NLHC continues to advance initiatives to increase access to stable, safe and affordable housing as part of the Provincial Government’s overall commitment to improving the social and economic well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. This includes:
To learn more about the five-point plan and other NLHC programs, visit nlhc.nl.ca.
Quotes
“As we work to increase access to affordable housing in Newfoundland and Labrador, it is also important that we continue to repair and modernize our existing homes. In partnership with the Federal Government, this agreement will make NLHC’s housing portfolio more sustainable over the long-term, ensuring our homes are available to more families.”
Honourable Paul Pike
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
“NLHC housing brings a safe, affordable place to call home within reach for so many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. We’re helping them fix up existing homes to give people in our communities a roof over their head. They’re strengthening our local housing stock. That’s work we’re proud to invest in.”
Honourable Seamus O’Regan
Minister of Labour and Seniors and Member of Parliament for St. John’s South–Mount-Pearl on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
Learn more
Significant Progress Made in Repairs and Renovations of Provincially Owned Vacant Units
Provincial Government Launches Five-Point Plan to Improve Availability of Housing That is Affordable
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Media contacts
Marc Budgell
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-727-5843
mtbudgell@nlhc.nl.ca
Micaal Ahmed
Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
micaal.ahmed@infc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
media@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Quick Facts
The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) provides funding through low-interest and/or forgivable loans or contributions to partnered organizations for new affordable housing and the renovation and repair of existing, affordable and community housing. This is a $14.2 billion program under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) that gives priority to projects that help people who need it most, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous Peoples, people living with disabilities, those with mental health or addiction issues, veterans, and young adults.
Visit Canada.ca/housing for the most requested Government of Canada housing information.
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 everyone in Canada has a home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, follow us on X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.
As part of the Provincial Government’s continued efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing in Newfoundland and Labrador, applications opened today for the Secondary and Basement Suite Incentive pilot program.
In October 2023, this initiative was announced as one of the pillars of the Five-Point Plan to help make housing more affordable for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians by supporting the creation of more housing. This program will allow homeowners to access a forgivable loan of 50 per cent of the cost of renovations, up to a maximum of $40,000, to create a new, self-contained secondary or basement suite within their home.
These loans will be fully forgivable, provided the new unit is rented out below market rates for a minimum of five years. The rental rates will be established by the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC), based on annual rental market reports published by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Criteria to qualify for the incentive include:
A full list of program criteria, as well as information on how to apply, can be found on the NLHC website here. A full list of eligible costs under the program can be found in the backgrounder below.
Total funding for the program is $4 million and eligible applicants will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis until all funding is allocated.
Quotes
“Our government continues to invest in creative solutions to increase access to both housing that is affordable and provincially owned social housing in our province. This incentive will support homeowners to create upwards of 100 new basement apartments or secondary suites, helping families find an affordable place to live within existing communities and near existing services. We will continue to advance initiatives under the five-point plan to help meet demand for affordable housing throughout the province.”
Honourable Paul Pike
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
“The Canadian Home Builders’ Association of Newfoundland and Labrador is optimistic that this program will not only provide more rental options for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, but also create opportunities for our members to complete projects integral to increasing the housing supply in our province.”
Alexis Foster
Executive Officer
Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Newfoundland and Labrador
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Learn more
Provincial Government Launches Five-Point Plan to Improve Availability of Housing That is Affordable
Proposals Invited for Development of Land for Rental Housing That is Affordable
Follow us on X at @GovNL and @NLHousing
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Media contact
Marc Budgell
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-727-5843
mtbudgell@nlhc.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
List of Eligible Costs Covered Under the Secondary and Basement Suite Incentive Program
The following list includes costs that can be covered under the Secondary and Basement Suite Incentive Program:
Eligible costs:
Costs that are not eligible include:
Any cost not covered by either list must be approved by NLHC prior to work commencing. For more information, visit Secondary Basement Suite Incentive Program FAQ.
With anticipated cold weather conditions, the Provincial Government is advising individuals experiencing homelessness to contact Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation’s emergency shelter line at 1-833-724-2444 for assistance with temporary accommodations.
Safe Haven Shelter at 10 St. Clare Avenue in St. John’s serves as a warming centre in times of inclement weather. The emergency shelter line will identify other options for those calling from outside the St. John’s metro region.
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Media contact
Jenny Bowring
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
The Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) is highlighting continued progress on repairs and renovations to the 143 provincially owned vacant units identified in a request for quotations in October 2023.
As of January 12, 2024:
In the Eastern Region, of the 85 vacancies in October, work is complete on 52, work is in progress on 29 units and four have not been assigned.
In the Central Region, 11 of the 15 vacancies are now completed and four are in progress.
In the Western Region, all 12 vacancies have been completed.
Of the 31 vacancies in Labrador, six are completed, 15 are in progress and 10 not yet assigned.
These 143 units are in addition to the standard repair and renovation process undertaken each year by the housing corporation, which is an ongoing part of its management of the province’s affordable housing units. When any NLHC unit or home becomes vacant, it requires repairs before new tenants can move in. So far in 2023-24, 349 units have been repaired and offered to tenants.
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Media contact
Jenny Bowring
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca