Sound Investments in Housing Continue to Benefit Individuals and Families

Through Budget 2013: A Sound Plan, A Secure Future, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) continues to invest in vital housing initiatives.

“Since 2003, our government has invested over $100 million in social housing to enable NLHC to modernize and improve 70 per cent of our current social housing dwellings, up from 30 per cent, ensuring more suitable and easier to maintain accommodations for our tenants,” said the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. “During that same time, through the Provincial Home Repair Program, a further $78 million has been provided to private homeowners to support vital home repairs benefiting 21,000 households, while reducing the waitlist from over 4,300 to less than 1,000 over the past six years.”

The total NLHC budget for 2013-14 is $118.7 million and funding is being maintained at current levels in key program areas to continue supports for the most vulnerable in our society. While the Provincial Government grant is being reduced by $9.3 million, from $56.1 million to $46.8 million, core programs such as the Supportive Living Program, the Home Modification Program and the Provincial Homelessness Fund continue. No programs are being eliminated. The Provincial Home Repair Program (PHRP), the Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP), as well as modernization and improvements to NLHC’s portfolio will be sustained at a lower level of investment this year.

“As a result of the commitments made by our government over the past 10 years, NLHC is well positioned to reduce costs, maintain key programs and continue to advance needed work in other areas,” said Minister Davis. “ We have to balance our fiscal priorities to ensure a sustainable future; the reduction to the housing budget has been carefully considered to minimize the overall impact for tenants and residents seeking improvements to their homes, while not impacting core programs and services for those most in need.”

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Media contacts:

Ed Moriarity
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 699-5668
edmoriarity@gov.nl.ca

Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing
Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Investments in Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation

The overall NLHC budget for 2013-14 is $118.7 million, including $46.8 million from the Provincial Government, $51.9 million from the Federal Government and $20 million in rental revenue.

Funding is being maintained at current levels for programs in the following areas:

• $4.8 million for the Supportive Living Program to provide grants to 20 non-profit community partners in the province who offer housing and related supports to persons with complex needs;
• $3 million for the Home Modification Program to enable persons with disabilities and seniors to remain safely in their own homes; and,
• $1 million for the Provincial Homelessness Fund for programs offered by community partners who work with homeless and at-risk populations, including youth.

No NLHC program area is being eliminated. Funding adjustments are being made to the following programs. Budget 2013 includes:

• $29 million for rental housing operations (such as modernization and improvement); a reduction of $3 million from 2012-13. Since 2003, the modernization and improvement budget has tripled. This year’s budget will still meet ongoing renovation requirements because of the significant improvements to NLHC’s portfolio over the past 10 years which has improved energy efficiency and seen a reduction in maintenance calls by 25 per cent.
• $10 million for the Provincial Home Repair Program. In 2007, a six-year commitment to increase spending for this program until 2012-13 was made to reduce the waitlist. The waitlist has been successfully reduced from 4,300 to 989 and the six year commitment has ended. This year, the Provincial Government’s previously increased investment will be reduced by $2 million.
• $2 million for Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP). Funding this year will support improvements for 500 households. Further savings of $300,000 will be found in the REEP program by no longer contracting out inspection services for the program, instead these inspections will be carried out by the current staff complement at NLHC.
• $9.6 million for community partner-managed housing groups, a reduction of $600,000 from 2012-13. Since 2009, because $15 million has been spent to renovate the properties for most of our 61 community-based non-profit housing partners. This year’s budget will continue to meet the needs of these groups.
• Additional savings this year include $600,000 in reduced travel, telephone and cellular services, office supplies, and introducing the use of video conferencing for meetings.

Improvements to Social Housing in St. John’s

The Provincial Government continues to deliver on a commitment to renew social housing. Investments are being made to modernize and improve a number of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) properties in St. John’s.

Two contracts, valued at $306,000, have been awarded to G.S. Hunt Ltd. to complete renovations and upgrades to 18 affordable social housing units, including:

• $238,000 for interior and exterior renovations for two duplexes on New Penneywell Road, with work scheduled to be completed this summer; and,
• $68,000 to install heat recovery ventilation systems in 14 units on Algerine Place and Eagle Court by late spring.

“Our government is supporting work to modernize and improve social housing to ensure it meets the needs of individuals and families,” said the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. “These efficiency upgrades and renovations are helping address the demand for affordable family homes, and I look forward to seeing the work completed.”

Budget 2013: A Sound Plan, A Secure Future provides $10 million for NLHC’s Modernization and Improvement Program. Since 2003, the Provincial Government has invested approximately $105 million in the annual Modernization and Improvement Program to upgrade social housing properties, province-wide.

Secure Foundations, released by the Provincial Government in August 2009, outlines a 10-year vision for social housing. It is aimed at improving the housing circumstances of low-income households and helping create healthier communities.

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Media contacts:

Ed Moriarity
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 699-5668
edmoriarity@gov.nl.ca

Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca

St. John’s Social Housing Units Receive Further Energy Upgrades

New ventilation systems will be installed in a group of 36 social housing units on Wigmore Court in St. John’s in order to further improve the energy efficiency of the homes. Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has awarded a $123,400 contract to Eastern Siding Systems Ltd. to install heat recovery ventilation systems in the properties. This work is scheduled to be completed in June.

“This project will make these homes more environmentally friendly and cost effective for tenants,” said the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. “These ventilation systems are being installed in renovated social housing units throughout the province to enhance air quality and improve circulation while reducing heat loss. Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation is helping to reduce energy costs while ensuring homes remain comfortable for families and individuals with low incomes.”

Building renovations such as this support the commitments in the Provincial Government’s action plans focused on climate change and energy efficiency, Charting Our Course: Climate Change Action Plan 2011 and Moving Forward: Energy Efficiency Action Plan 2011.

Secure Foundations, released by the Provincial Government in August 2009, outlines a 10-year vision for social housing. It is aimed at improving the housing circumstances of low-income households and helping create healthier communities.

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation is the province’s largest landlord, with 5,573 affordable rental units province-wide.

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Media contacts:

Ed Moriarity
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 699-5668
edmoriarity@gov.nl.ca

Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca

Ministerial Statement: Minister Highlights the Achievements of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation’s First Female Carpenter

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Joan Shea, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills:

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to highlight the achievements of an employee of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.

Shauna Sutton, a native of English Harbour West, is the first female carpenter ever hired by the corporation. What sets Ms. Sutton apart is not her gender, but the example she puts forward as a mentor to other young women wishing to pursue a career in the trades here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Ms. Sutton’s record of achievement began while enrolled at the Carpenters Millwright College in Paradise in 2008, where she won the school’s Award of Excellence for education, leadership and safety skills. In 2009 she became the first female apprentice registered with the Office to Advance Women Apprentices, and the first to find employment with Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.

Recently, she joined other female tradespeople selected from across North America by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters to take part in a three-day female mentorship program in Las Vegas.

Ms. Sutton is a committed mentor, volunteering time to appear at high schools as a demonstrator for Skills Canada intermediate competitions, and visiting community centres to speak to female youth about her career path. She has also been blessed with terrific mentors in her own life, including family, co-workers and instructors.

Mr. Speaker, a carpenter of Ms. Sutton’s experience and skills could likely find employment abroad, however she has made a conscious choice to stay and contribute to the growth of our province through affordable housing construction and mentorship to young women pursuing careers in the trades.

Ms. Sutton is a shining example of the incredible time of opportunity for women in Newfoundland and Labrador – especially when it comes to opportunities in the skilled trades. In fact, Mr. Speaker, since 2009, the number of women enrolled in skilled trades in the province has grown by 33 per cent.

Through innovative programs, such as our Journeyperson Mentorship Program, we are increasing job opportunities in the skilled trades – particularly for under-represented groups, including women.

I invite my colleagues in this Honourable House to join me in congratulating Ms. Sutton for her contributions and to wish her all the best on her upcoming journeyperson exam.

Thank you.