Canadian Funding Corp Reviews CMHC Affordable Housing Reports

Posted by Moishe Alexander

The Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick today announced that 450 social housing units in southwestern New Brunswick will receive $3.5 million for repairs and renovations.

The funding was made available through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government’s plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession. 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. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment of $75M under the amended Canada – New Brunswick 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.

Repairs include exterior retrofits, electrical, plumbing, heating, fire safety and energy improvements.

Rodney Weston, Member of Parliament for Saint John, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Kelly Lamrock, New Brunswick Social Development Minister and Minister Responsible for Housing, made the announcement today.

“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is taking action to help ensure our economic recovery and create the conditions for long-term growth,” said MP Weston. “Funding renovation and retrofit projects, like these ones, will not only improve the quality of life of the residents by keeping their homes safe and affordable but also help stimulate the economy and create jobs.”

“We are pleased to work together to provide affordable and safe accommodations for low-income seniors, families and to those who have accessibility needs in southwestern New Brunswick,” Lamrock said. “Affordable housing is a key component of this government’s Overcoming Poverty Together: The New Brunswick Economic and Social Inclusion Plan to ensure New Brunswickers have a quality, energy-efficient place to call home.”

Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada’s commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over the next five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless.

Posted by Moishe Alexander

The Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick today announced an investment of more than $4 million for the construction and renovation of 252 housing units for low-income seniors, families and persons with disabilities. Funding in the amount of $2.59 million will be for the renovation and retrofit of existing social housing, while $1.6 million will be for the construction of new affordable housing units.

The funding was made available through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government’s plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession. 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. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment of $75 million under the amended Canada – New Brunswick 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 for the renovation and retrofit of existing social housing as well as $475 million to build new rental housing for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities over two years.

Eight housing projects will receive funding for repairs and renovations. The projects are located in Fredericton, Woodstock, Summerfield and Beechwood. Repairs to the 212 social housing units include electrical, plumbing, fire safety and energy improvements, as well as site works.

A new housing development, Tannery Court II, will also create 40 units for low-income seniors, including 4 accessible units for those with disabilities. This project is located at 543 Brookside Drive in Fredericton and is being developed by Tannery Court Co­operative Ltd., a non-profit organization. In addition to federal stimulus funding, the project is receiving more than $2.6 million in rent supplements from the Province of New Brunswick.

The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC); and the Honourable Kelly Lamrock, New Brunswick Minister of Social Development and Minister Responsible for Housing, made the announcement today.

“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is helping Canadians during these tough economic times. Here in Greater Fredericton, this achievement gives a hand-up to low-income seniors, families and individuals who need safe, affordable housing that meets their needs,” said Minister Ashfield. “This is also a good way to get the local economy moving because it puts construction workers and tradespeople to work quickly.”

“We are pleased to work together to provide affordable and safe accommodations for low-income seniors, families and those who have accessibility needs in the Fredericton region,” Lamrock said. “Affordable housing is a key component of this government’s Overcoming Poverty Together: The New Brunswick Economic and Social Inclusion Plan to ensure New Brunswickers have a quality, energy-efficient place to call home.”

Moishe Alexander, August, 2009 – Trucks could be rolling into four Nova Scotia communities as early as this fall to break ground on affordable housing for seniors and people with disabilities.

The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway and Nova Scotia Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse announced today that almost 50 units of affordable rental housing will be built over the next year in Sydney, Port Hawkesbury, Middleton and Amherst.

The funding was made available as a result of a $128 million joint investment under the amended Canada – Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Program Agreement which includes equal funding through Canada’s Economic Action Plan and by the Government of Nova Scotia and through an extension to the Canada – Nova Scotia Housing Renovation Program Agreement.

“Our Conservative Government is committed to making affordable housing available in Nova Scotia and today’s announcement is good news for our province,” said Minister MacKay. “This investment creates much needed jobs, strengthens the economy, and improves the quality of life for Nova Scotians.”

“Making life better for Nova Scotians by increasing access to safe, affordable housing is one of our government’s top priorities,” said Ms. Peterson-Rafuse. “This new housing will allow more seniors and people with disabilities to remain independent.”

Province-wide requests for proposals will be issued starting this week, inviting contractors to submit proposals for the construction of the new units for seniors and persons with disabilities. Tenders will continue to be issued over the next several months.

About 26 independent living seniors’ units will be built in Sydney; Port Hawkesbury will get a barrier-free duplex; 15 seniors’ units, three of which will be barrier free, will be built in Middleton; and Amherst will get a seniors fourplex.

The new units are part of the amended agreement announced in April 2009, which will deliver $128 million for the construction and renovation of affordable housing throughout the province over the next two years. These four communities are the first round of new housing to be built in year one. Year two will see the construction of more units around the province.

“Nova Scotians in all regions of the province will see new and improved affordable housing,” said Ms. Petersen-Rafuse. “The projects will also create construction jobs.”

Roughly $20 million will be spent on the creation, renovation and upgrade of more than 2,600 social housing units in Cape Breton. Northern Nova Scotia will see about $10 million used for the same purposes on about 1,300 social housing units. Central Nova Scotia will get approximately $50 million for the creation, renovation and upgrade of approximately 3,700 units and around $16 million will be invested in more than 1,800 social housing units in the Western region.

In total approximately 180 housing units for seniors and people with disabilities in Nova Scotia will be created and renovations and energy upgrades will be done to over 9,200 individual social housing units.

The remaining $32 million of the $128 million will go towards continued funding for existing provincial repair programs and affordable housing made possible through partnerships with private developers and non-profits.

More than 1,200 affordable housing units in Nova Scotia have already been created or preserved under the Canada – Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Program.

Last fall, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over the next five years to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless. Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on this with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing and lending of up to another $2 billion to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.

Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Study
Video provided by Moishe Alexander for Canadian Funding Corp