The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador today announced a cost-shared investment of more than $2 million under Canada’s Economic Action Plan for the ongoing renovation of 52 affordable social housing units in St. John’s.
“The next phase of our Government’s Economic Action Plan is stimulating the economy and creating jobs during the global recession here and across Canada,” said the Honourable Peter Penashue, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Regional Minister for Newfoundland and Labrador and MP for Labrador, NL. “Renovation projects like these are a good way to get the local economy moving and put construction workers and trades people to work quickly. Most importantly, they are giving a hand-up to those who need it most, by improving the quality of social housing.”
“These upgrades will continue to provide safe and affordable homes for families and individuals with low incomes,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. “Over the past two years we have carried out unprecedented renovations and improvement work on our housing units, which has greatly enhanced the quality of our social housing portfolio throughout the province.”
Work on the units, located in six social housing buildings on Nascopie Crescent, Eagle Court, and Algerine Place, includes window, door, siding, and landing replacements, as well as basement insulation. The work is being carried out by Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation staff.
Funding of more than $2 million for the joint initiative was made possible 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 contributed equally to an overall investment of $58 million under the amended 2009 Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Affordable Housing Program Agreement.
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.
The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest more than $2 billion in housing this year. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will be spent in support of almost 615,000 households living in existing social housing. In Newfoundland and Labrador, this represents some 12,500 households. These investments are improving the quality of life for Canadians with low incomes and households living in existing social housing, including individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants, and Aboriginal people.
To find out more about how the Government of Canada and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca .
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Media contacts:
Jason Card
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 709-699-0470
jasoncard@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Communications Manager
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Katherine LeBlanc
Consultant, Communications & Marketing
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
902-426-6581
krleblan@cmhc.ca
Alyson Queen
Director of Communications
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Fifteen non-profit groups were awarded more than $900,000 in 2011-12 to help address homelessness in their communities. The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, made the announcement today at an event held at the Salvation Army’s Wiseman Centre in St. John’s.
“The Provincial Homelessness Fund is part of the Provincial Government’s comprehensive approach towards addressing housing and homelessness issues,” said Minister Hedderson. “The funding helps hard-working community-based organizations maintain and expand programs which assist people in vulnerable circumstances.”
The Wiseman Centre was among the 15 organizations to receive funds. The centre was provided $124,000 to renovate the building, creating four emergency shelter accommodations for single women between the ages of 30 and 64. A list of all organizations funded is provided in the backgrounder below.
“We are delighted to receive this funding,” said Salvation Army Major Lloyd George, Executive Director of the Wiseman Centre. “The demand in our community for more shelter space to house adult single women is increasing and this gives us the ability to address this need.”
Over the past three years, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation’s Provincial Homelessness Fund has provided 33 grants totalling nearly $3 million to 23 non-profit organizations throughout the province. Under the fund, registered non-profit groups can receive up to a maximum of $200,000 per recipient in a given fiscal year. The funding is provided to assist the groups with the costs associated with developing support services to provide on-site outreach services, and promote housing stability for those at risk of homelessness.
In addition, eligible non-profit groups may qualify for funding of up to $20,000 towards the purchase of commercial appliances including dishwashers, stoves and refrigerators. This funding would typically be used by groups who operate soup kitchens, food banks or similar programs. Non-profit groups who do not own the property they are proposing to renovate may also be eligible for a maximum of $25,000 for renovations.
“I am pleased to see this substantial support for the Wiseman Centre and other important community-based organizations,” said Tom Osborne, MHA for St. John’s South. “The Wiseman Centre has been doing tremendous work in our community for many years, and this funding will assist them in expanding its valuable services.”
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
Major Lloyd George
Executive Director
Wiseman Centre
709-739-8355
lloyd_george@can.salvationarmy.org
Donna Ivey
Communications Manager
Government Members Office
709-729-0898, 697-1424
donnaivey@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
2011-2012 Provincial Homelessness Fund Commitments
| Project | Funding |
| Wiseman Centre, St. John’s | $124,000 |
| Epilepsy NL, St. John’s | $100,000 |
| Independent Living Resource Centre, St. John’s | $150,000 |
| Parish of the Resurrection, South River | $22,234 |
| Holy Trinity Family Aid, Torbay | $38,000 |
| Bridges to Hope, St. John’s | $10,000 |
| Church of the Good Sheppard, Mount Pearl | $5,000 |
| Stella Burry Community Services (Carew Lodge), St. John’s | $200,000 |
| MacMorran Community Centre, St. John’s | $13,505 |
| Salvation Army, Clarenville | $10,000 |
| Salvation Army, Gander | $22,500 |
| Corner Brook Status of Women | $28,500 |
| Peter’s Foundation, St. John’s | $29,660 |
| Choices for Youth, St. John’s | $152,000 |
| Community Youth Network, Corner Brook | $13,050 |
| Total | $918,449 |
The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, will announce grants under the Provincial Homelessness Fund for 15 non-profit groups tomorrow (Friday, February 3). The event will take place 2:00 p.m. at the Wiseman Centre, located at 714 Water Street in St. John’s.
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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