As part of the new government’s commitment to aggressively repair and replace damaged or uninhabitable homes, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has issued a Request for Proposals to build four new apartments on Empire Avenue.
These new homes will replace four homes that were destroyed in a fire in July 2024. This project is jointly funded by the Federal Government and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador as part of the Canada Community Housing Initiative, which is part of the broader National Housing Strategy, a multi-year $115 billion plan to give more Canadians a place to call home.
In order to meet the area of greatest demand, these four apartments will be smaller, one-bedroom homes, each approximately 450 square feet. Residents will benefit from lower energy costs due to the building’s energy-efficient construction and smaller building footprint.
A nearby building that was damaged in the same fire is undergoing repairs, and those four units will be ready for occupancy this spring.
This RFP is open until April 24, 2026, with the project award anticipated in May.
Quotes
“Our government has committed to repair and replace damaged and destroyed NLHC homes, and this project shows how we can work with our federal counterparts to help make it happen. A secure and safe home increases a person’s safety and contributes to our community’s well-being, and these four units will allow residents the opportunity to form meaningful connections in a healthy environment.”
Honourable Joedy Wall
Minister of Housing
Minister of Social Supports and Well-Being
“Our Government is proud to support this initiative, part of our ongoing efforts to build strong, affordable communities across Newfoundland and Labrador. These new housing units will make a real impact on lives in St. John’s, and it’s another step forward in our bold, ambitious plan to build Canada strong.”
The Honourable Joanne Thompson
Minister of Fisheries and Member of Parliament for St. John’s East
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Request For Proposals, New Residential Build – St. John’s, Nl – 25TS007 | MERX
Quicks facts:
As part of the new Provincial Government’s commitment to help more people find a safe and affordable place to live, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) has issued a request for proposals to build a three-apartment accessible home in St. John’s.
The work will see construction of one residential building on Hoyles Avenue on land owned by NLHC. This one-story building will consist of three separate apartments. One of them will be a one-bedroom unit and two will be studio style. The one-bedroom and one studio apartment will be fully wheelchair accessible, while all three apartments will incorporate Universal Design features such as wider doors, lever handles, and grab bars.
The two studio-style units are between 450-500 square feet, and the one-bedroom unit is approximately 700 square feet. These units will support individuals who are experiencing homelessness or who are unsheltered.
Funding of $458,000 is being provided by End Homelessness St. John’s through the Government of Canada’s Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative, a $250 million program that works to help individuals who are experiencing homelessness or unsheltered find stable housing.
Accessible homes are much needed. In the 2024 report called Point-in-Time Count compiled by End Homelessness St John’s, 92 per cent of people experiencing homeless identified as having a disability.
This RFP is open until April 16, 2026.
Quotes
“Too many people in Newfoundland and Labrador cannot find a safe and affordable place to live. This project shows how we can work with the Federal Government, the private sector and the community sector to get things done. It will take all of us working together toward the common goal of getting more homes built.”
Honourable Joedy Wall
Minister of Housing
“Our government is proud to support the construction of three apartments on Hoyles Avenue in St. John’s. These apartments will become safe, accessible homes for members of our community who are in need, and represent an important step towards tackling homelessness in St. John’s.”
Honourable Joanne Thompson
Federal Minister of Fisheries
Member of Parliament for St. John’s East
“Access to safe, appropriate housing is foundational to ending homelessness, and for many individuals we serve, accessibility is essential. This investment, supported by our Community Advisory Board, represents a meaningful step forward in creating housing that meets people where they are, particularly those living with disabilities who too often face barriers in securing stable homes. By combining accessibility, thoughtful design, and targeted support, this project reflects the kind of collaborative, solutions-focused approach we need to see more of across our community.”
Doug Pawson
Executive Director, End Homelessness St. John’s
The following statement is from the Honourable Joedy Wall, Minister of Housing and Minister of Social Supports and Well-Being:
“This report highlights something that we knew from our time in opposition, that during a time when housing needs were evolving and needs were increasing, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has lacked proper support and coherent direction from the former government for years.
As the Auditor General’s report notes, the corporation had a net loss of 57 units from April 1, 2021 to June 30, 2025. This loss occurred despite investments of $38.2 million from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation Bilateral Agreement, and $11.7 million from Budget 2024.
As a result of this neglect, there were consequences, this includes the waitlist at NLHC, which grew by 35 per cent from 2021 to 2025, and is not kept current. Additionally, the corporation could not effectively forecast demand for social rental housing. Construction of new units was done on an ad hoc basis.
In Budget 2024, the former administration announced, out of nowhere, that NLHC would be absorbed into the Provincial Government. This announcement was made with no plan, and no work was ever done to make it happen. The only impact it did have was stalling crucial decision-making.
In addition, over a two-year period, the corporation had six different ministers. This is a concern that has been noted to me in every stakeholder meeting I have had since taking on this portfolio. Stakeholders are tired of briefing a new minister every three to six months while issues persist.
We have made several changes since forming government, with the aim of providing proper oversight and support to the NLHC. This includes:
• Appointing a full-time, dedicated CEO for the NLHC, who is solely focused on bringing forward fresh ideas to some of the issues facing the corporation, which they and their team will work to implement.
• We have awarded a contract to replace our outdated rental management software and are in the process of finalizing a contract for a new modern system that will provide us with better data quality and other tools.
• We will create a position to complete a policy review for the first time in over a decade. NLHC has undergone significant change in that time, including a change in management structure, taking over the emergency shelter system, the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of a housing and homelessness crisis. Our policies must reflect these new realities.
Our government has committed to aggressively repairing or replacing uninhabitable units, but as this report makes clear, the corporation has systemic issues that must be addressed so that we can do this effectively. This is something we aim to fix, and I hope to provide an update on this work in the near future.
I would like to thank the Auditor General and her staff for their in-depth review of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation’s supply management. The report highlights issues with oversight, data quality and management, planning and execution. These are serious issues that must be addressed, and I have full faith in the team to make the necessary changes, with government’s support, to put the corporation on the right track.”
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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.
Quote
“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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Provincial Government Awards Contract for New Apartment Building in Pleasantville
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