Today, members of the Virginia Park Community Centre joined Premier John Hogan, KC, ministers and the mayor of the City of St. John’s to announce plans to construct a new community resource centre in Pleasantville with land and financial commitments from the Provincial Government and the City of St. John’s.
The future community resource centre will replace the current Virginia Park Community Centre on Harding Road which has been temporarily closed since January 2024. As a community resource centre, it will aim to provide a greater variety of services to more people than the existing centre.
The new centre will be located on Janeway Place in St. John’s, next to 32 NLHC homes in the area that are nearing completion. This new location will allow the centre to serve the Virginia Park community as it has since 1987 and expand to serve the growing Pleasantville community and families in the Quidi Vidi and Forest Road areas. The centre will eventually take on a new name that will better reflect this bigger area.
Premier Hogan was on hand to announce the provision of the land for the project, as well as an investment of up to $1 million from the Provincial Government for construction of the new facility. This investment is in addition to the $237,500 in annual operating funding the Provincial Government provides to the centre for the important social, educational, recreational and career development programs and services it provides to the community.
The Virginia Park team are in the process of forming a fundraising committee, which will work to secure additional financing from corporate, community and other levels of government. The target for fundraising is $4.5 million, which includes the commitment from the Provincial Government.
Premier Hogan joined Ron Ellsworth, Board Chair of the Virginia Park Community Centre, for the announcement. They were joined by the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, the Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development and MHA for Virginia Waters-Pleasantville, Victoria Mullins, Executive Director of the Virginia Park Community Centre, and His Worship Danny Breen, Mayor of the City of St. John’s.
The City of St. John’s has proudly supported the Virginia Park Community Centre for many years through its Community Grant Program, with $30,000 provided in 2025. The city will also support this project by waiving permit and development fees.
As an “open door” and long-standing safe haven in the neighbourhood, the Virginia Park Community Centre connects people to vital resources – including referrals, social supports, employment services, recreation, education, and wellness programming.
Since January 2024 the community centre has offered services from alternate locations in the community including the Academy Canada building on Harding Road, East Point Elementary and St. Mark’s Anglican Church. These services will continue until construction on the new facility is complete.
Quotes
“Our government knows that a sense of community, and of belonging to a community, is a key driver of health and well-being. This new community centre will expand the reach of the existing Virginia Park Community Centre to serve more families in Pleasantville, Quidi Vidi and Forest Road, and we are pleased to provide land and financial support to help make it a reality.”
Honourable John Hogan, KC
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“This new centre will deepen our impact by expanding the supports and services we can offer to the community. This new larger space will allow us to reach more people, strengthen community connections, and continue being the heart of a larger neighbourhood – a place where everyone is welcomed, supported, and empowered. I thank the Provincial Government for its ongoing support of our vision.”
Ron Ellsworth
Board Chair, Virginia Park Community Centre
“This new community resource centre is the latest in a long line of development projects in Pleasantville. The families that move into these new developments will benefit from the established support structure from the Virginia Park team, and I thank the volunteers for their vision to move forward with a project that not only better serves the families they know, but that will allow their community to grow.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
“The City of St. John’s is proud to partner in building a new community resource centre that will serve as a foundation for connection, support, and opportunity for families in Virginia Park, Pleasantville, and beyond. This project reflects our ongoing commitment to invest in organizations and spaces that bring people together and strengthen our neighborhoods for generations to come.”
His Worship Danny Breen
Mayor of the City of St. John’s
“As the member representing both Virginia Waters and Pleasantville, I am extremely pleased to see this project move forward. It is hard to explain just how important the hard-working team at the Virginia Park Community Centre is to our community, and I am so pleased that the work they do will soon benefit even more families.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development and MHA for Virginia Waters –Pleasantville
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The Provincial Government is today highlighting progress on the construction of hundreds of affordable rental homes throughout the province as a result of the Affordable Rental Housing Program.
Budget 2025 includes $32 million in 2025-26 for the Affordable Rental Housing Program, part of an overall $82 million, three-year investment that will result in the construction of approximately 800 homes.
Currently, 38 projects have received final approval, which will result in the construction of more than 325 affordable rental homes:
Another 34 projects have conditional approval, with these proponents in the process of providing necessary documentation to receive final approval. These projects represent approximately 450 additional affordable rental homes.
Today, the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, visited the site of a project nearly completed in Pouch Cove. The proponent, 85862 NL Corp., received $725,000 from the Affordable Rental Housing Program to construct 10 affordable rental homes, including one fully accessible unit. Under the agreement with the proponent, these homes will be rented at affordable rates set by Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation for 15 years.
The Provincial Government is addressing current housing needs head on, with investments focused in three key areas:
In addition to the Affordable Rental Housing Program, government’s Five Point Plan is providing incentives to advance private and community sector builds, homeowners who wish to add a secondary or basement suite, and first-time homebuyers.
Quote
“As Minister of Housing, it is gratifying to see so many homes going up in our communities thanks to the Affordable Rental Housing Program. Our investments over the last two years are coming to fruition, and 2025 is set to be a big year in housing construction. Our government will continue to work with private and community sector partners to get more people home.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, Minister of Seniors
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njwalsh@nlhc.nl.ca : www.nlhc.nl.ca
The Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada are providing combined funding of more than $44 million to help build over 280 new homes in Newfoundland and Labrador. These homes are part of a broader federal initiative, adding to the 965 new homes already announced in Newfoundland and Labrador since 2021.
The announcement was made by Ken McDonald, Member of Parliament for Avalon, alongside the Honourable Pam Parsons, provincial Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality and Member of the House of Assembly for Harbour Grace-Port de Grave. Minister Parsons made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Housing and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The announcement took place at 17-23 Dawe’s Avenue in Clarke’s Beach which received nearly $300,000 from the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) to build six affordable rental units. The project will be operated by LID Homes and incorporates accessibility and universal design features in a rural setting near local trails and parks.
The AHF provides funding through low-interest and/or forgivable loans or contributions to partner organizations for new affordable housing and the renovation and repair of existing, affordable and community housing. This is a $14.6 billion program under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) that gives priority to projects that help people who need it most, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous Peoples, people living with disabilities, those with mental health or addiction issues, veterans, and young adults.
The 26 projects receiving funding through the federal AHF are also proponents of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s $80 million Affordable Rental Housing Program (ARHP), first announced in November 2023. These projects account for $17.9 million of the total ARHP funding, which supports private and community sector construction projects with a one-time forgivable loan. Successful proponents will own and manage their projects and rent to lower income households at or below rates established by the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, based on annual market reports published by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Overall the ARHP is expected to result in the construction of more than 800 affordable rental homes throughout the province.
A detailed list of all the projects that received funding through the federal Affordable Housing Fund is provided in a backgrounder to this release.
Quotes
“We are pleased that the Government of Canada has made additional funding available to many of the projects our government is supporting through the provincial Affordable Rental Housing Program. Well-being starts at home, and by working together we can drastically expand affordable rental availability for residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Pam Parsons
Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality
Member of the House of Assembly for Harbour Grace-Port de Grave
“Everyone deserves a place to call their own, and the Affordable Housing Fund is one way we’re helping make that a reality for Canadians. We will keep investing in housing projects like the ones announced today in Bay Roberts, and working with partners across the country, to end the housing crisis.”
Honourable Nathanial Erskine-Smith
Federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
“The Government of Canada is committed to working with communities to meet the challenge of building more housing across Newfoundland and Labrador. Through Affordable Housing Fund, our government is increasing the supply of new housing by investing more than $25 million in the construction of 286 units, benefiting those who need it most.”
Ken McDonald, Member of Parliament for Avalon
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Learn more
Provincial Government Announces Results of RFP for Affordable Rental Housing Program
Government of Canada – Housing
Government of Canada – Housing and Infrastructure Project Map
Media contacts
Nancy Walsh
Housing
709-853-5740, 709-724-3055
njwalsh@nlhc.nl.ca
Sofia Ouslis
Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
sofia.ouslis@infc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
media@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Projects Receiving Federal Funding Through the Affordable Housing Fund
| Project Name | Town | Funding | New Construction or Repairs | Units |
| AYC Apartments | Springdale | $235,221 | New Construction | 5 |
| Hoskins Terrace | Baie Verte | $574,056 | New Construction | 10 |
| Klondyke Affordable Living | Bay Roberts | $855,233 | New Construction | 10 |
| Wight’s Road Project | Deer Lake | $954,940 | New Construction | 8 |
| IDAM – SAWDUST ROAD | Bay Roberts | $1,425,460 | New Construction | 14 |
| Klondyke Court | Bay Roberts | $2,030,331 | New Construction | 20 |
| NLHC Affordable Housing Caledonia Road, Botwood, NL | Botwood | $627,205 | New Construction | 10 |
| St. Lawrence Affordable Housing Complex | St Lawrence | $406,235 | New Construction | 8 |
| Morey’s Apartments | Port Anson | $352,355 | New Construction | 5 |
| ARHP NL | Clarke’s Beach | $287,689 | New Construction | 6 |
| Christopher Street Project | Paradise | $1,959,125 | New Construction | 12 |
| Ashlen Crescent and St. Thomas Line | Paradise | $1,059,040 | New Construction | 6 |
| Grandview Ave and Paradise Road | Paradise | $1,022,543 | New Construction | 6 |
| Seniors Apartment Rentals Twilingate | Twillingate | $718,000 | New Construction | 10 |
| My Project – 92971 NL Corp | Fortune | $633,286 | New Construction | 10 |
| Affordable Rental Housing-Glovertown | Glovertown | $548,675 | New Construction | 10 |
| Airport Avenue | Deer Lake | $397,165 | New Construction | 6 |
| Rose’s Cottages | Burin | $696,383 | New Construction | 10 |
| 85862 NL Corp – Pouch Cove Development | Pouch Cove | $4,054,696 | New Construction | 36 |
| Affordable Rental Housing Program – EJB Contracting Ltd. | Robert’s Arm | $845,000 | New Construction | 10 |
| NL Affordable Housing Program (85577 NL Inc.) | Botwood | $1,113,141 | New Construction | 16 |
| Affordable Housing 2023-2024 (Robert’s Arm Interfaith Senior Citizens Home Inc) | Robert’s Arm | $753,000 | New Construction | 12 |
| 34 Spruce Avenue, Glenwood, NL A0G 2K0 (“The Morgan on Spruce”) | Glenwood | $2,843,686 | New Construction | 20 |
| 132 Main Street, Burin | Burin | $828,592 | New Construction | 10 |
| North River | North River | $832,943 | New Construction | 10 |
| Rockview Estates | North River | $371,174 | New Construction | 6 |
| Total: | $26,425,174.00 | 286 |
As part of continued collaboration to address the root causes of homelessness, today the Federal and Provincial Governments announced an agreement that will see an additional $2 million invested in measures to address unsheltered homelessness in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The agreement, part of the Federal Government’s Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative (UHEI), prioritizes initiatives that directly support people living without homes, tailored to the specific realities of St. John’s. New investments through this agreement include:
The agreement recognizes the Provincial Government’s significant investments in emergency shelter and transitional housing, anticipated to be over $30 million during each year of the agreement (2024-25 to 2025-26). These investments far surpass the requirement for cost-matching under the agreement.
The continued operations of the staffed emergency shelter system and Horizons at 106 in St. John’s are part of the Community Encampment Response Plan stipulated through the joint agreement. The Provincial Government is also supporting Mercy House, the recently completed transitional and supportive living space at the Gathering Place in St. John’s.
The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Housing and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, joined the Honourable Joanne Thompson, federal Minister of Seniors and Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, and Doug Pawson, executive director of End Homelessness, St. John’s to make the announcement.
In late 2023, Premier Furey appointed a St. John’s acute homelessness task force including Minister Abbott, the mayor of the City of St. John’s and community partners to address issues that caused individuals to sleep rough in the capital city. The work of this committee informed the creation of Horizons at 106, new policy directions around homelessness, and has fostered greater collaboration amongst partners in addressing issues as they arise.
Housing provides stability and security and serves as the foundation for overall well-being. Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to live, and this initiative supports the Federal Government’s progressive realization of the right to adequate housing.
The $2 million in federal funding through the agreement is in addition to what the Federal Government is investing through the regionally delivered streams of Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, a total of approximately $61 million from 2019-2028 in Newfoundland and Labrador. More agreements with provinces and territories are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Quotes
“As we have worked to address housing and homelessness challenges in our province, it has been clear at every turn that there is no one action or investment that can overcome these issues. This agreement is the latest in a series of efforts our government has taken, along with our federal and community partners, to help people break the cycle of homelessness. From expansion of staffed shelter beds, transitional and supportive housing to the creation of affordable housing, we are creating lasting housing solutions.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Housing and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
“Our government is determined to build a Canada where homelessness is no longer an issue. Together, we can support all parts of the housing spectrum so that every person has a safe, affordable place to call home. As public spaces increasingly become places of refuge, it is a reminder that we must act. Through thoughtful investments and partnerships, we can strengthen support services and take meaningful steps toward ending chronic homelessness.”
Honourable Joanne Thompson
Minister of Seniors and Member of Parliament for St. John’s East
“This investment represents a critical step in addressing unsheltered homelessness in St. John’s. The addition of micro-homes, along with enhanced support for our Housing Outreach Team and Supported Referrals Program, will help individuals not only find housing but also maintain it with the necessary supports. Collaboration across all levels of government and within the community is essential to achieving lasting change. We remain committed to ensuring every person in our city has access to safe, affordable housing and the resources they need to thrive.”
Doug Pawson
Executive Director, End Homelessness St. John’s
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Media contact
Nancy Walsh
Housing
709-853-5740, 709-724-3055
njwalsh@nlhc.nl.ca
Sofia Ouslis
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
Sofia.ouslis@infc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
613-960-9251
Toll-free: 1-877-250-7154
Email: media@infc.gc.ca
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