Social housing units in Gander and Appleton will undergo $155,000 in renovations, as the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation continues its annual modernization and improvement program.
“We are achieving great results as we continue upgrading our provincial rental housing portfolio,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. “The work we are completing around the province will greatly enhance the long-term availability and quality of these affordable homes.”
In Gander, R & D Construction Ltd. has been awarded a contract valued at $72,000 to install new siding, windows and doors on 10 units on Bennett Drive, Brown Crescent, and Heath Crescent. As well, a contract valued at $83,000 has been awarded to J.I. Pritchett & Sons. This contract will see the replacement of roofs on 16 units on Bennett Drive as well as the replacement of windows and doors on two units in Appleton.
“Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation is doing tremendous work upgrading and maintaining social housing throughout the province, and advancing the goals of our government’s social housing plan,” said the Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs and MHA for Gander. “I am especially pleased with the great renovation work in the Gander area that will enhance these properties for years to come.”
A Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador – Secure Foundations, released by the Provincial Government in August 2009, outlines a long-term vision for social housing. It is aimed at improving the housing circumstances of low-income households and helping create healthier communities. Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador allocated $25.9 million for social housing infrastructure, including $10.4 million for maintenance and $12 million for renovations and improvements.
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation is the province’s largest landlord with approximately 5,573 non-profit social housing dwellings province-wide.
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Media contacts:
Jason Card
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 699-0470
jasoncard@gov.nl.ca
Paula M. Norman
Executive Assistant to the
Honourable Kevin O’Brien
MHA for Gander
709-729-3053, 729-0943
paulamnorman@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador announced today the completion of a $495,000 reconfiguration housing project on Mundy Pond Road in St. John’s. A six-bedroom duplex has been remodelled into four, one-bedroom apartments for single adults living on low incomes.
The equally cost-shared federal and provincial funding for this current project was allocated through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund ($383,000) and Canada’s Economic Action Plan: Renovation and Retrofit of Social Housing ($112,000). This is the second reconfiguration project undertaken by Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) as part of an innovative pilot project aimed at meeting the changing demographic need for social housing, particularly in urban centres through the restructuring of existing social housing properties.
“The Government of Canada is proud to have been a partner in the renovation and retrofit of these apartments,” said the Honourable Peter Penashue, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). “With the completion of the work, families and individuals can now access affordable rental housing that meets their needs.”
“I am delighted to announce the completion of this second reconfiguration project,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. “These homes will definitely improve the ability to meet the changing and challenging housing needs of smaller families and single adults through our existing provincial social housing portfolio. For some time now we have been looking for innovative ways to achieve this goal, and it is our hope this reconfiguration will make a positive difference.”
The Provincial Government invested $1 million to research and develop options to address the changing demographic need for social housing. The goal is to restructure under-used units into homes that meet the demographic need for smaller homes, and in the process, to yield at least one additional unit within the same space. Similarly in Corner Brook, NLHC remodelled a duplex on Wheeler’s Road into three one- and two-bedroom apartments. Both reconfiguration projects were undertaken in low-density neighbourhoods with consideration for suitable parking and access.
In September 2008, the Government of Canada committed to a five-year investment of more than $1.9 billion in housing and homelessness to address the needs of low-income Canadians, those at risk of homelessness, and the homeless. This included a two-year renewal of the Affordable Housing Initiative and renovation programs until March 31, 2011 with a commitment to consult on the use of the investments for the 2011-2014 period. Canada’s Economic Action Plan built on this with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing, plus $2 billion in low-cost loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.
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 provided $850 million under the Affordable Housing Initiative to provinces and territories for the renovation and retrofit of existing social housing.
On August 16, 2011, the Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador signed a new $41-million equally cost-shared affordable housing agreement. Funding under the new agreement for Investment in Affordable Housing 2011-2014 will continue to reduce the number of households in housing need.
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 Opens in new window. For more information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, call 1-800-O Canada or visit www.actionplan.gc.ca Opens in new window.
A Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador – Secure Foundations, released by the Provincial Government in August 2009, outlines a long-term vision for social housing. It is aimed at improving the housing circumstances of low-income households and helping create healthier communities. Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador also allocated $25.9 million for social housing infrastructure, including $10.4 million for maintenance and $12 million for renovations and improvements.
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation is the province’s largest landlord with approximately 5,573 non-profit social housing dwellings province-wide.
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Media contacts:
Jason Card
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 699-0470
jasoncard@gov.nl.ca
Katherine LeBlanc
Consultant, Communications
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
902-426-6581
krleblan@cmhc.ca
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Alyson Queen
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation is investing $92,400 to renovate three homes in the Port au Port Peninsula communities of Abraham’s Cove and Three Rock Cove.
“This work is part of the annual modernization and improvement program that is being successfully delivered throughout the province, which makes significant improvements to many social housing properties,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. “These significant exterior renovations make a positive difference in the lives of the families who reside in these affordable homes and so I am pleased to see the progress we have made province-wide with our renovations.”
The work will include siding, windows and doors, as well as roof and eave replacements on the three units, two of which are in Abraham’s Cove. The anticipated completion date, weather permitting, is February 2012.
“Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has been paying great attention to renovating and maintaining its existing social housing portfolio,” said Tony Cornect, MHA for Port au Port. “I am delighted to see this work underway in Abraham’s Cove and Three Rock Cove, as well as other renovations that have been taking place in the Stephenville and Port au Port areas.”
A Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador – Secure Foundations, released by the Provincial Government in August 2009, outlines a long-term vision for social housing. It is aimed at improving the housing circumstances of low-income households and helping create healthier communities. Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador allocated $25.9 million for social housing infrastructure, including $10.4 million for maintenance and $12 million for renovations and improvements.
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation is the province’s largest landlord with approximately 5,573 non-profit social housing dwellings province-wide.
– 30 –
Media contacts:
Jason Card
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 699-0470
jasoncard@gov.nl.ca
Donna Ivey
Communications Manager
Government Members Office
709-729-0898, 697-1424
donnaivey@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Twenty-five social housing units in Western Newfoundland will undergo $98,500 in upgrades, as Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation continues to deliver its annual modernization and improvement program throughout the province.
“These upgrades in western Newfoundland will make meaningful enhancements to these affordable homes, to the benefit of tenants,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. “This adds to the significant upgrades that have been ongoing in the region, especially over the past few years, when significant progress began with respect to upgrading the social housing portfolio province-wide.”
Premier Siding was awarded a contract valued at $41,000 to refurbish the roof of an eight unit building on Beothuk Crescent in Corner Brook.
“I am pleased to see this modernization and improvement work taking place,” said Vaughn Granter, MHA for Humber West. “Our social housing neighbourhoods in Corner Brook are being revitalized as Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation continues to upgrade homes for families and individuals with low-incomes.”
Star Construction was awarded a contract valued at $8,500 to repair foundations on two social housing units in St. Andrew’s and St. George’s. A contract valued at $5,000 was awarded to Gale’s Septic to install a sewer system in a unit in St. Andrew’s. In addition, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation staff completed $29,000 in walkway replacements on 12 units on Wyoming Drive in Stephenville.
“It is always great to see Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation investing in the social housing properties in our area,” said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills and MHA for St. George’s – Stephenville East. “This work will ensure that these properties will be able to meet the needs of tenants in the region.”
Another contract, valued at $15,000 was awarded to Shear’s Electrical and Construction Ltd. to replace windows on two units in Hampton.
A Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador – Secure Foundations, released by the Provincial Government in August 2009, outlines a long-term vision for social housing. It is aimed at improving the housing circumstances of low-income households and helping create healthier communities. Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador allocated $25.9 million for social housing infrastructure, including $10.4 million for maintenance and $12 million for renovations and improvements.
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation is the province’s largest landlord with approximately 5,573 non-profit social housing dwellings province-wide.
– 30 –
Media contacts:
Jason Card
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 699-0470
jasoncard@gov.nl.ca
Janine Carter
Executive Assistant for the
Honourable Joan Burke
MHA for St. George’s – Stephenville East
709-643-8676
janinecarter@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Donna Ivey
Communications Manager
Government Members Office
709-729-0898, 697-1424
donnaivey@gov.nl.ca