The Gathering Place will receive a total of $696,000 in Provincial Government funding to renovate their centre and expand services to their members and guests. Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation provided $300,000 through the Provincial Homelessness Fund.
The Honourable Paul Davis, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, along with the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and MHA for Conception Bay South, will attend the official opening of the Salvation Army Thrift Store and Family Services Centre.
The event will take place at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, June 15) at the Villa Nova Plaza, 130 Conception Bay Highway.
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Media contact:
Carol Ann Carter
Director of Communications (Acting)
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-1758, 631-9505
carolanncarter@gov.nl.ca
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) has retained OrgCode Consulting Inc. to help gain a better understanding of the housing and homelessness issues throughout Newfoundland Labrador. The findings will inform future decision-making and ensure that all needs, including those that may be hidden from view, are considered.
“It has been four years since we first released and began to work with our Provincial Social Housing Plan: Secure Foundations, so this is a very timely exercise,” said the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister Responsible for NLHC. “By engaging people in all regions of the province, we hope to quantify and better understand the homeless and at-risk populations, identify gaps and barriers in services, and make recommendations on how to better support these populations and the community-based entities that serve them.”
NLHC received 11 responses from the local and nationally issued proposal call for this important research study. A selection committee comprising government and community partner representatives confirmed OrgCode Consulting Inc. as the successful proponent. Further information on OrgCode can be found in the backgrounder.
OrgCode will conduct interviews in each region of the province during June and July with the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing and Homelessness Network (NLHHN), Community Advisory Boards (CABs), key stakeholders involved in the planning and delivery of services to the homeless or those at-risk of becoming homeless; as well as people with lived experience.
“We are looking forward to participating fully in this project and discussing provincial housing and homelessness issues,” said Gail Tobin, Chair of the NLHHN. “Our hope is that in the end this research and evaluation will give us greater insight into the incidence of homelessness in each region of the province, and how we can alleviate this issue.”
Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador wishing to participate in the review process or to provide comments are encouraged to contact OrgCode directly. Input is welcome via email or telephone until July 31, 2013. Contact information is outlined in the following backgrounder.
The final report, due in October, will provide insight into the incidence and scope of homelessness throughout the province, identify future directions and priorities for the NLHHN and recommend effective strategies to end homelessness. The findings of this project will guide future decisions related to program priorities and funding investments throughout our province.
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Media contacts:
Carol Ann Carter
Director of Communications (Acting)
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-1758, 631-9505
carolanncarter@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Gail Tobin
Chair of Newfoundland and Labrador
Housing and Homelessness Network
709-722-8272
gailtobin@iriskirbyhouse.nf.net
BACKGROUNDER
OrgCode Consulting Inc. Conducts Research on Homelessness
OrgCode has been in operation for over 30 years serving the needs of the public, non-profit, private and non-governmental sectors with extensive experience in the field of housing and homelessness. OrgCode has developed housing and homelessness plans in Ontario, capacity building and program evaluation with community-based organizations in Alberta, and performance measurement evaluations for human services in Saskatchewan.
For more information about the Research of Provincial Homelessness Needs and evaluation of the NLHHN project, to request participation in a key informant interview, or for anyone interested in providing feedback please contact Tracy at tflaherty-willmott@orgcode.com or call 1-800-355-0420, ext. 7.
If you are a service provider and wish to participate in an online survey that will assist in the Research of Homelessness Needs in Newfoundland and Labrador project, please follow this link: www.research.net/s/NLHC_ServiceProviders
The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador celebrated the official opening of eight new two-bedroom affordable housing units for seniors and persons with disabilities in Salt Pond on the Burin Peninsula.
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, made the announcement today.
“Our government is investing in affordable housing here in Salt Pond and across Canada to help create jobs and improve the quality of life for those who need it most. With our partners, we are providing a helping hand for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities, and in doing so, we are contributing to the economic and social well-being of the entire community,” said Minister MacKay. “We remain focused on four priorities, as outlined by the Prime Minister, that Canadians care most about: their families, the safety of our streets and communities, their pride in being a citizen of this country, and of course their personal financial security.”
Owned and operated by Grand Fairways Resort Inc., the project received a $320,000 equally cost-shared investment from the Federal and Provincial Governments. This funding comes as a result of the $41 million Investment in Affordable Housing 2011-2014 Agreement between the Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador.
“This is another great example of a private sector developer stepping up to help meet the housing needs of seniors,” said Minister Davis. “The Provincial Government, through Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, is pleased to have invested $160,000 to support this project aimed at giving seniors and persons with disabilities the security and comfort they deserve.”
A key objective for the Provincial Government is to stimulate the development of affordable rental housing by the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Priority is placed on developing rental housing for persons with disabilities, seniors, and people who require supports to live independently in the community. This work is in keeping with A Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador – Secure Foundations, released by the Provincial Government in August 2009, which outlines a long-term vision for social housing. A copy of the social housing plan is available at SocialHousingPlan-2009Report.
“NLHC’s Affordable Housing Program has served my company very well both as a funding partner and a source of guidance to make these eight new homes for seniors in Salt Pond possible” said Ira Cribb, President, Grand Fairways Resort Inc. “As a private sector housing developer we are very pleased to play our part in contributing to the housing needs of seniors.”
The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest approximately $2 billion in housing this year. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will be spent in support of close to 594,000 households living in existing social housing. In Newfoundland and Labrador, this represents an estimated 11,400 households. These investments are improving the quality of life for low-income Canadians 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 CMHC 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:
Carol Ann Carter
Director of Communications (Acting)
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-1758, 631-9505
carolanncarter@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
Jan O’Driscoll
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Ira Cribb, President
Grand Fairways Resort Inc.
709-277-5023 cellular
gfr@eastlink.ca