The Governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island announced a new agreement for affordable housing investments that will provide close to $3 million to help Prince Edward Island residents in housing need. The new agreement replaces the previously signed agreement in 2011 and adds an additional $650,000 in provincial funding.
Under provincially-designed programs, the new agreement will help Islanders in housing need, including seniors, persons with disabilities and families. Initiatives can include new construction, renovation, rent supplements, and accommodations for victims of family violence, for example.
“The agreement recognizes the need for local solutions to housing challenges,” said the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). “Access to acceptable housing is a foundation for healthy living and a building block for success in so many other areas – education, labour market, community engagement and family. That is why our Government is proud to continue its investment to improve access to affordable housing that is sound, suitable and sustainable for seniors, persons with disabilities and families on the Island.”
“The new agreement supports the Province’s Social Action Plan which includes a commitment to strengthen supports to vulnerable Islanders in areas such as housing for persons with disabilities, seniors and families,” said the Honorable Valerie E. Docherty, Minister of Community Services and Seniors. “The Province will begin planning immediately for the new PEI Home Renovation Program that will allow more Islanders to stay in their homes or with family members.”
In 2011, the Governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island signed the renewal of the existing affordable housing and renovation agreements. This renewal flowed from the Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) Framework announced by federal, provincial, and territorial governments in July 2011. The Framework recognizes that provinces and territories have responsibility for the design and delivery of affordable housing programs in order to address the specific housing needs and priorities in their jurisdictions.
The new agreement and funding announced today relates to the last year (2013-14) of the previously-announced three-year $7 million combined federal-provincial investment. Under the new agreement, federal funding is provided through a single funding envelope, which combines the Government of Canada’s funding for off-reserve affordable housing and renovation programs.
Both orders of government will report annually to the public regarding the investments and progress toward achieving the intended outcomes of the initiative.
On March 21, 2013, the Economic Action Plan 2013 announced the Government of Canada’s continued commitment to working with provinces and territories to develop and implement solutions to housing by proposing more than $1.25 billion over five years to renew the IAH to 2019. The funds will also support the use of apprentices, which will support training of skilled labour.
Between 2011 and the end of December 2012, more than 136,000 households across Canada have benefited from IAH funding.
In May, 2012, the Province released the Social Action Plan to Reduce Poverty which provides a framework to strengthen supports to vulnerable Islanders in areas such as housing, financial supports, court processes, early childhood development and training, skills development and job readiness.
To learn more about Affordable Housing in Prince Edward Island, visit www.gov.pe.ca/housing.
To find out more about how the Government of Canada, through CMHC, is working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan. For more information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, call 1-800-O Canada or visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
Backgrounder: For information on the Investment in Affordable Housing 2011-2014 Framework visit: http://www.cmhc.ca/en/corp/nero/nere/2011/2011-07-04-0930.cfm