Marc Budgell, Author at Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation

Seven More Projects Receive Funding Through the Newfoundland and Labrador Community Housing Growth Fund

As part of NL Housing’s commitment to helping community sector partners develop affordable housing, seven more projects are receiving funding through the Newfoundland and Labrador Community Housing Growth Fund.

A total of $310,000 was awarded for pre-development costs to make it easier to advance community-based projects. Projects receiving funding include:

The Columbus Centre in Mount Pearl is receiving $50,000 for a project that aims to develop 20 affordable housing units for seniors in Mount Pearl.
Community Mental Health Initiative Inc. in Corner Brook is receiving $50,000 to assist with the development of 12 affordable units as part of a joint effort with the Corner Brook Status of Women Council.
Otter Housing Association Inc. in Port Rexton is receiving $50,000 to develop eight affordable units included in a mixed-market development serving seniors, young adults, newcomers and people experiencing homelessness.
Stella’s Circle in St. John’s is receiving $50,000 in pre-development funding to complete design for up to 26 units serving all demographic populations.
Charwood Legion Manors Inc. in Carbonear is receiving $50,000 toward the design of six affordable housing units for seniors.
Eastern Gate Church Inc. in St. John’s is receiving $50,000 as it works add 10 new affordable seniors apartments to its existing portfolio.
Springdale Pentecostal Church is receiving $10,000 as it works to develop two affordable units within a larger market-rate housing development targeting seniors.

These seven projects bring total number funded so far by the Community Housing Growth Fund to 15. The fund supports community organizations and registered charities with funding for planning and pre-development work for affordable housing projects, where the absence of this funding could be a barrier to the projects’ advancement.

Many of these projects are also conditionally approved for funding under the Provincial Government’s Affordable Rental Housing Program. Budget 2025 includes $32 million for projects under the Affordable Rental Housing Program, part of an overall $82 million that will result in the construction of approximately 800 homes. Over 180 homes are already under construction or completed through this program, with further construction anticipated to start this summer.

The Community Housing Growth Fund was created in 2024 by the Provincial Government and the national Community Housing Transformation Centre. The $1.5 million invested in the fund includes $1.25 million from the Provincial Government and $250,000 from the Centre. Funding is still available, and groups interested in applying for support can visit the Centre’s website.

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“I would encourage organizations throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to consider applying for funding from the Community Housing Growth Fund to help pre-development planning. This fund helps organizations cover costs that arise early on in a project, and we want to reduce barriers and maximize housing initiatives across the province.”
Honourable Sarah Stoodley
Acting Minister of Housing

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Learn more
Budget 2025: Smarter. Stronger. Better

More Projects Approved under Newfoundland and Labrador Community Housing Growth Fund

Funding Approved for Three Projects Through Newfoundland and Labrador Community Housing Growth Fund

Provincial Government Partnership to Support Growth of the Community Housing Sector

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Provincial Government Provides Update on Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Units

On Thursday, March 27 a fire broke out in a six-unit row of homes on Livingstone Street in St. John’s owned by Newfoundland and Labrador Housing. Due to the severity of the damage from this fire, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing will be moving forward with demolition of this row of homes in the interest of public safety.

Only one of the six-units had a tenant at the time of the fire. This tenant has been living in temporary accommodations, and is scheduled to move into another Newfoundland and Labrador Housing unit next week. While repair work was underway, the units were barricaded, as there had been frequent break-ins and vandalism that caused extensive delays.

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing met with contractors this week, and is expected to begin demolition next week. Security has been on-site since March 28, and will remain until this demolition work is completed.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation is also providing an update on repair and renovations work. Each year, staff with Newfoundland and Labrador Housing complete an average of 14,000 work orders for routine maintenance, ensuring that more than 5,500 homes are maintained for over 12,000 current tenants province-wide.

Between April 1, 2023 and April 1, 2025, more than 750 provincially owned homes were vacated. When any provincially owned home is vacated it requires some level of repair before it can be redistributed to new tenants. This can range from minor work, such as painting, to major and lengthy structural repairs. During this same timeframe, more than 800 homes were refurbished and made available to families.

There will always be vacancies during this refurbishment process. The current vacancy rate is four percent.

In Budget 2024, the Provincial Government increased the repairs, maintenance and renovations budget for provincially owned homes by $8 million.

Additionally, work is underway on the construction of 32 new provincially-owned homes on Janeway Place in St. John’s, with estimated completion this year. Work is also expected to begin this year on a new 40-unit apartment building in the same area.

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“I would like to express my profound thanks to staff with Newfoundland and Labrador Housing, who go above and beyond to maintain our provincial housing portfolio. The thousands of work orders they complete each year are critical to keeping our homes available to families throughout the province, and we continue to fund major vacancy repairs to ensure that homes that become available can be given to new families as quickly as possible.”
Honourable Sarah Stoodley
Acting Minister of Housing

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Ministers Abbott and Haggie Join Town of Gander in Providing Update on Local Housing and Homelessness Hub

As part of its ongoing commitment to addressing issues of housing and homelessness, the Provincial Government is providing funding to the Gander Housing and Homelessness Hub to support their work in establishing a service hub in the area. The Provincial Government is providing the Hub with more than $117,000 for operational expenses and pre-development costs as it works to finalize details of the model and structure of the hub, which is anticipated to offer a range of housing supports and services.

The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Housing and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, and the Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs and MHA for Gander, today joined His Worship Percy Farwell, Mayor of Gander, and members of the Gander Housing and Homelessness Hub to discuss next steps in their efforts to support individuals experiencing homelessness in the area.

This project is part of the Town of Gander’s New Beginnings Proposal to address critical housing needs in the community. The Hub has engaged a consultant to solidify the project scope, based on an evaluation of current and future needs in the region. It is anticipated that the consultant’s work will be completed by spring 2025 and will provide critical guidance on next steps.

The Hub will be the latest step in a concerted response to homelessness in the region. In August, the Provincial Government announced the creation of a Transitional Housing initiative on Airport Boulevard, supported by a one-time investment of $430,000 and $859,000 in operating funding. Overseen by the Central Residential Services Board, this initiative will provide up to 15 individuals with transitional housing beds to help bridge the gap between homelessness and stable housing.

The $117,000 provincial investment includes more than $67,000 in new funding, as well as $50,000 through the Community Housing Growth Fund, announced in December 2024.

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“This latest funding to the Gander Housing and Homelessness Hub is a sign of our ongoing commitment to their efforts to address homelessness in the central region. My thanks to the Board, to Mayor Farwell and the town council, and to my colleague Minister Haggie for their continued collaboration in supporting the most vulnerable in the region.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Housing and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions

“I am pleased to be a part of this announcement and would like to thank the Housing and Homelessness Hub and the Town of Gander for their vision and perseverance. Along with wraparound services from many community partners, these first steps along the housing continuum are a move in the right direction for individuals, families and our community.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs and MHA for Gander

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Learn more
More Projects Approved under Newfoundland and Labrador Community Housing Growth Fund

Provincial Government Investing in Transitional Housing Initiative in Gander

Provincial Government Recognizes National Housing Day 2024

The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Housing and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, joins all levels of government throughout Canada in recognizing today (November 22) as National Housing Day.

To help address housing and homelessness, and ultimately the well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, the Provincial Government is working closely with community partners and other levels of government. Examples of some of the work underway include:

Provincially owned homes

Funding for more than 100 new homes in Corner Brook, Central Newfoundland, and Labrador West through Budget 2024.
Completed construction of eight homes in St. John’s and 16 homes in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
Construction is underway on 32 homes in St. John’s, while pre-development work is ongoing for a 40-unit apartment building in St. John’s.
Refurbished more than 200 provincially owned homes in 2024-25 through an increased budget for repairs and renovations.
Modernizing and upgrading more than 850 provincially owned homes over three years in partnership with the Federal Government.

Incentivizing community and private sector housing development

Community and private sector projects under the Affordable Rental Housing Program will create approximately 850 affordable rental units.
Under the Provincial Government’s Five-Point Plan, private sector partners will construct an estimated 450 new rental units through the Rental Housing Development Loan Program.
The Five-Point Plan also made Provincial Government-owned land available in St. John’s, with five projects conditionally approved to construct an estimated 300 new rental units.
Introduced the Community Housing Growth Fund in partnership with the national Community Housing Transformation Centre, which supports community affordable housing projects with funding for planning and pre-development work.

Community partnerships

Partnered with End Homelessness St. John’s on Horizons at 106, a transitional living program which is currently serving close to 60 individuals and has helped an additional seven individuals successfully move into more stable housing.
Partnered with The Gathering Place on Mercy House and O’Callaghan’s Haven, an expansion that will see 90 individuals receive emergency shelter, transitional and supportive housing supports.
Partnered with the Central Residential Services Board to create a Transitional Housing Initiative in Gander.
Released shelter standards, developed after extensive consultations with community partners, and will undertake implementation in consultation with these same partners.

Affordability

271 families have been approved for loans under the First-Time Home-Buyers Program, with 168 already purchasing homes.
A Secondary and Basement Suites Incentive has been launched to provide homeowners with a forgivable loan for the construction of affordable rental units within their home.
Partnered with Federal Government to expand the Canada-Newfoundland Housing Benefit, providing housing supports for survivors of gender-based violence. This expansion is expected to support over 580 individuals or households over five years.

Every year, November 22 is National Housing Day – a day dedicated to raising awareness about housing and homelessness throughout Canada. National Housing Day calls on the entire housing sector – including governments, financial organizations, developers, communities, and Indigenous and other partners – to work together to develop impactful solutions and ensure that every Canadian has a safe and affordable home.

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“Our government recognizes that there isn’t one single approach that can address our current housing challenges. In partnership with other levels of government, and community and private sector partners, we’ve actioned a diverse range of initiatives. On this National Housing Day, we reflect on our progress while recognizing that we must maintain this momentum to improve access to safe and affordable housing for all.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Housing and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions

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Learn more
16 New Affordable Rental Homes Coming to Happy Valley Goose Bay

Provincial Government Issues RFP to Build 50 New Homes in Corner Brook

Contracts Awarded to Construct New Homes in Labrador West

Funding Approved for Three Projects Through Newfoundland and Labrador Community Housing Growth Fund

Five-Point Plan Supporting Families in Securing First Home, Promoting Creation of Hundreds of Affordable Rental Housing Builds

Federal-Provincial Partnership Will Provide Rent Support for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence

Provincial Government Investing in Transitional Housing Initiative in Gander

Provincial Government Releases Shelter Standards

Provincial Government to Partner with End Homelessness St. John’s to Operate the Transitional Supportive Living Initiative

Federal and Provincial Governments Sign Agreement to Support Modernization of NLHC Homes

Eight New Homes in St. John’s Highlight Continued Progress on Affordable Housing Development in Newfoundland and Labrador

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