Senator Michael Duffy, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with the Honorable Janice Sherry, Minister of Community Services, Seniors and Labour, today announced support for local housing initiatives for low-income seniors, persons with disabilities and families.
Funding in the amount of $1.0 million has been made available for the initiative through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government’s plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment of $8.54 million under the amended Canada –Prince Edward Island Affordable Housing Program Agreement.
The Government of Canada wants to improve the quality of existing social housing for low-income seniors, single parent families, recent immigrants and Aboriginal households. Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides $850 million under the Affordable Housing Initiative to provinces and territories for the renovation and retrofit of existing social housing. It also provides a total of $475 million, over two years, to build new rental housing, including $400 million for housing for low-income seniors and $75 million for housing for persons with disabilities. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for new and existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.
“Through Year 2 of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our Government remains committed to giving a hand-up to those who need it most here in Prince Edward Island,” said Senator Duffy. “That’s why we are proud to have invested in the construction and renovation of these units in Montague and Eastern PEI, which will go a long way to providing safe, affordable homes for years to come.”
"We're pleased to partner with the Federal Government on these significant initiatives spanning areas from Eastern Kings to Southern Kings to Charlottetown, said Minister Janice Sherry. “The majority of the projects being funded here today support the continued provision of essential services in rural communities consistent with our government’s Rural Action Plan. In addition to two new housing developments, this funding will also help renovate several existing social housing buildings."
Today’s announcement highlights funding of over $1 million for 12 projects providing housing to groups such as seniors and families and people with disabilities. The projects being supported through funding in today’s announcement are: Forest Hills Rural Native Housing, Georgetown Family Housing, Mount Stewart Family Housing, Souris Family Housing, Vernon Bridge Rural Community Housing, Cardigan Seniors Housing, GF Holdings Inc., Charlottetown Family Housing and Bella Place Housing. Two of the projects are new developments. GF Holdings Inc. in Montague will provide 10 new units for seniors and Bella Place Housing in Charlottetown will provide eight new units for seniors and three new units for persons with disabilities.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada’s commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless.
More information on this and other measures in Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government’s plan to stimulate the economy and protect those hit hardest by the global recession, can be found at: www.actionplan.gc.ca.
To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan.
BACKGROUNDER
The housing projects that will receive contributions are as follows:
Charlottetown 1 $44,639.72
Charlottetown Family 3 $16,987.60
Souris Forest Hills Rural Native housing $4,678.36
Georgetown Family Housing $84,774.94
Mount Stewart Family Housing $110,000.00
Souris Family 1 $52,714.01
Souris Family 2 $28,129.27
Souris Family 3 $41,265.02
Vernon Bridge Rural Community Housing $22,392.69
Montague Seniors $235,000.00
Cardigan Seniors $8,295.00
Bella Place (Seniors and Persons with Disabilities) $294,428
Bella Place (Affordable Housing Initiative Phase II) $70,000.00