The Honourable Joedy Wall, Minister of Housing, was pleased to receive the Auditor General’s report into the Transitional Supportive Living Initiative that came to be known as Horizons at 106.
The Auditor General’s review, which was first requested on July 31, 2025, by Premier Wakeham when he was the Leader of the Opposition, validates our concerns with how the lease was procured.
In her report, the Auditor General found:
The Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has instructed the operator to cease intake at Horizons at 106, and the Provincial Government will work with community partners on comprehensive transition plans for all residents of Horizons as of December 31, 2026. For some, this will mean moving on to independent housing as planned when they entered Horizons.For others, it will mean placement in a supportive model delivered in newly renovated NLHC homes, private market rentals supported by Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Benefits, or other forms of housing. Models like this exist currently in Newfoundland and Labrador.
All residents of Horizons at 106 are classified as NLHC tenants and will be processed as transfers. These individuals will be matched with supports from community partners in their homes.
The earlier request for proposals issued to replace Horizons, which was released in August 2025 under the former government, has been cancelled. Three proposals were received, only two qualified and neither were deemed suitable as an effective replacement for the program.
Budget 2026 included $12.7 million over two years to repair NLHC homes, which includes funding to hire more than 20 maintenance staff, as well as $4 million to increase the amount of available Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Benefits by approximately 500.
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“We were clear since before we formed government that the lease for 106 Airport Road was an example of Liberal waste, secrecy and insider connections. This report, first requested by Premier Wakeham, validates that. Discussions are ongoing with community partners on a solution that focuses on the people supported by Horizons. I am confident we will put in place appropriate supports for those leaving Horizons in December.”
Honourable Joedy Wall
Minister of Housing
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Many renters in Newfoundland and Labrador are struggling to afford their home, and Budget 2026 includes new dedicated funding to help lower-income families stay housed.
Starting in 2026-27, an additional $4 million per year will be dedicated to increasing the number of low-income households eligible for the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Benefits by approximately 500.
The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Benefit (CHB) is a portable rental assistance program for low-income households. That means that once a household is approved for this assistance, the benefit transfers with them if they decide to move to a new home.
Funding received through the program varies based on individual households, as the amount received is calculated as the gap between what a qualifying household can pay (using NLHC’s rent-geared-to-income calculation) and the average market rent in an area.
NLHC’s current waitlist is just over 2,600. More than 60 per cent of these applicants currently have housing, but they are struggling to afford it and qualify for NLHC assistance at their current income level. This funding will help reduce the waitlist by approximately 20 per cent.
There are currently 2,589 households that receive rental assistance through the CHB. Over its lifetime, the program has helped more than 3,300 households.
Premier Wakeham and the new Provincial Government are focused on reducing the number of families who have to pay more than 30 per cent of their income on housing costs. Increased CHB access is one of the ways to achieve this, along with increasing the availability of affordable housing through construction and aggressive maintenance of current units. Housing investments in Budget 2026 reflect these priorities.
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“Since forming government, one of the first things that we’ve identified is a need for more Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Benefits each year. This meets the needs of families who are housed but struggling to afford rent, allowing us to prioritize new housing for those without access to housing. We will continue to prioritize investments that work over those that are flashy, and I look forward to the continued success of this program.”
Honourable Joedy Wall
Minister of Housing
Minister of Social Supports and Well-Being
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The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Joedy Wall, Minister of Housing:
Speaker, it is my privilege to rise and thank members of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association for holding their 58th National Congress on Housing and Homelessness in St. John’s this week.
This association represents organizations, businesses, municipalities and individuals from every province and territory in Canada who work together to strengthen the community housing sector through their advocacy, research, partnerships and services.
We are pleased to have been a title sponsor to make this important conference happen. More than 600 people met here for three days of learning, networking, and engaging with leaders from across the Canadian community housing sector.
I was able to meet with dozens of people who have the knowledge, expertise and commitment to reinvigorate Canada’s housing sector.
I also welcomed the opportunity to meet with Ana Bailão, CEO of Build Canada Homes, to learn more about how that federal agency may support our own efforts to grow affordable and sustainable housing in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Speaker, my thanks to the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association and local and national partners for their efforts and contributions towards resolving the housing crisis.
As part of the new Provincial Government’s commitment to help more people find a safe and affordable place to live, the Honourable Joedy Wall, Minister of Housing, is today announcing the award of a contract to build a 20-home apartment complex in Corner Brook.
The contract, valued at $9.8 million, will see the construction of a three-story apartment building on Crestview Avenue. The building will be owned and operated by Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, and will feature 10 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom apartments, the areas of greatest demand. Once construction is complete, tenants will be selected from the corporation’s regular application process.
Four of the two-bedroom apartments will be fully accessible, while all 20 will feature universal design components to support people as they age. The building will also include an elevator.
Streamline Management, based in Pasadena, was the successful bidder on this contract. This is a design-build project, which means the contractor will do both the design and the actual construction of the building. As the owner, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation provides key design requirements that the contractor must meet, such as accessibility requirements.
It is expected that construction will start in summer 2026, and that these 20 homes will be complete by the end of 2027.
This project is the second apartment building announced by the Provincial Government in as many months, following the announcement of a 40-home apartment building in St. John’s in December.
As part of the new government’s goal to see 10,000 homes built in five years, NLHC will continue to explore new construction models and practices for its own housing projects.
In addition to pursuing investments in new housing, government will meet its goal by:
These efforts are focused on reducing the number of families who have to spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing costs.
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“Our government has set the ambitious goal of seeing 10,000 homes built over five years. To achieve this, we need to do things differently, including a focus on new types of homes. This apartment building will create affordable and suitable homes for 20 NLHC families, providing more affordable options on the west coast.”
Honourable Joedy Wall
Minister of Housing
Minister of Social Supports and Well-Being
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Learn more
Provincial Government Awards Contract for New Apartment Building in Pleasantville
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