Major upgrades and accessibility enhancements are underway at the Rabbittown Community Centre on Graves Street in St. John’s. J & T Construction Ltd. has been awarded a contract valued at $565,300 to complete the work.
“The Rabbittown Community Centre is a valuable resource to the neighbourhood,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. “It is a gathering place that provides support and offers opportunities to people in our community. These renovations will enable the centre to grow and to continue providing quality programs and services to hundreds of families and individuals.”
The work will include construction of a new main entrance featuring a stairwell equipped with a platform stair lift to enhance accessibility to the basement and second floor. The centre’s multi-purpose room will be remodeled, new windows, doors and siding will be installed and the roof will be repaired. The project is scheduled to be complete in June 2012.
“We are all looking forward to seeing the finished product and getting back into the centre this summer,” said Lilly Lush, Executive Director of the Rabbittown Community Centre. “The renovations will greatly enhance our ability to provide quality programs and services, and we are delighted that the platform stair lift will enhance the accessibility of the building for people with mobility disabilities.”
Rabbittown Community Centre is one of eight community centres and affiliated neighbourhood centres supported by Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation throughout the province. The community centre serves approximately 400 people. Since 1986, the multi-purpose facility and its staff and volunteers have provided recreational, health, educational, social and vocational programs to the community. Programs include After School Drop-in, Homework Haven, Healthy Baby Club, Computer Program, Junior Youth Mentoring, Community Kitchen, Career Services and Public Health Nursing Clinic. While construction is ongoing, programming is being run from the Parish of St. Augustine Church on Westerland Road.
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 people with low incomes 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.
Media contacts:
Jason Card
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
729-3015, 699-0470
jasoncard@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Lilly Lush
Executive Director
Rabbittown Community Centre
709-739-8482
lilly@rabbittown.ca
Major renovations are now underway at the Froude Avenue Community Centre, as Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has awarded a contract valued at $511,300 to Diversified Construction Ltd.
“These renovations will give Froude Avenue Community Centre patrons, staff, volunteers and board members an improved space,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. “This work is a key part of the ongoing revitalization of the Cashin Avenue-Froude Avenue neighbourhood and these enhancements will help serve the future needs of the community.”
The work will include an extension to the community centre’s multi-purpose room along with exterior renovations including new windows, doors and siding. The project is scheduled to be complete in July 2012.
“Everyone who avails of the programs and services offered at the centre are delighted these renovations are taking place,” said Bob Dawson, Executive Director, Froude Avenue Community Centre. “Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has been making steady progress with revitalizing the neighbourhood and these new renovations will certainly complement that momentum.”
Froude Avenue Community Centre is one of eight community centres and affiliated neighbourhood centres supported by Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation throughout the province. Since 1985, this multi-purpose facility has provided recreational, health, educational, social and vocational programs to more than 450 people. Programs include After School Drop-in, Homework Haven, Computer Program, Community Kitchen, and Public Health Nursing Clinic.
The administrative office for the centre is operating from 26 Froude Avenue while renovations are ongoing, and programs are being offered at various locations in the area.
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 people with low incomes 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
729-3015, 699-0470
jasoncard@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Bob Dawson
Executive Director
Froude Avenue Community Centre
709-579-0763
bob@froude.ca
Renovations and repairs to affordable housing in St. John’s continue as Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has awarded contracts valued at $146,500 to complete work on 24 social housing properties in the city.
“Renovations and repairs such as these are ensuring a sustainable social housing infrastructure for our future,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation “Work is ongoing throughout the province under the annual modernization and improvement program, so we can provide upgraded properties to better serve tenants.”
“I am pleased to see this work taking place throughout St. John’s,” said Dan Crummell, MHA for St. John’s West. “Through Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, our government is investing significantly in social housing to ensure properties are well-maintained and can meet the future needs of our city.”
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
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
donnaivey@gov.nl.ca
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation is now accepting applications for the Residential Energy Efficiency Program. The program is designed to assist as many as 1,000 homeowners with low incomes carry out retrofits to their homes for improved energy savings this year.
“The Residential Energy Efficiency Program has had excellent results with respect to improving energy efficiency of houses,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. “This program is one of several that make it possible for homeowners with low incomes to upgrade their homes, in ways that make them more affordable in the long term.”
Assistance will be available in the form of a grant of up to $3,000 per household on the island and up to $4,000 per household in Labrador. Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation will provide funding for energy audits at the homes of successful applicants by an independent energy advisor.
In Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador the Provincial Government invested an additional $12 million to extend the program for three years. Applications will be processed in the order in which they are received to a maximum of 1,000 applications each year. Homeowners whose annual household income is $32,500 or less are eligible to apply.
The Residential Energy Efficiency Program was run as a pilot project for two years. During this period approximately $7 million in grants enabled 2,000 homeowners to make retrofits. This resulted in an average household energy savings of 35 per cent and cash savings of nearly $800 per year.
This program directly supports the goals of the Provincial Social Housing Plan – Secure Foundations, which was released by the Provincial Government in August 2009, and includes promoting renovation programs for lower-income homeowners to improve energy efficiency and conservation. It also addresses the long-term goals of the Poverty Reduction Strategy which are to improve the housing circumstances of low-income households and help create healthier communities. In addition, it supports Moving Forward: Energy Efficiency Action Plan 2011, which outlines the Provincial Government’s vision for improving energy efficiency throughout the province.
Applications can be downloaded from www.nlhc.nl.ca, or can be attained by calling: 709-724-3132 or 709-724-3211, or toll-free, 1-866-331-3436. Applications are also available at regional Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation offices.
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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
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca