The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, today announced that a request for proposals has been issued for the creation of new affordable homes in the province’s rental market. This request for proposals builds on the more than 1,000 housing options that have been created over the last two years and further highlights the ongoing commitment to increase access to safe and affordable housing, and ultimately improving health and social outcomes for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
A technical briefing for media will be held at 2:30 p.m. today (Wednesday, June 7), in the 3rd Floor Boardroom, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation Head Office, 2 Canada Drive, St. John’s, to discuss the request for proposals for the new Affordable Rental Housing Program. Minister Abbott will be available to speak with the media immediately following the briefing.
Media planning to participate are asked to confirm their attendance with Jenny Bowring at jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca.
Budget 2023 included a $70 million investment for a new, three-year, Affordable Rental Housing Program. The program will provide one-time capital funding in the form of a forgivable loan to support the development of more than 850 new affordable rental homes throughout the province. These new homes will be developed through partnerships with the private and community housing sectors. The program will focus on supporting seniors, as well as other vulnerable populations, including young adults, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, newcomers, women and children fleeing violence and people experiencing homelessness.
The proposal call and guidelines for both the Private Sector stream and a Community Housing Sector stream are available here. Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation will also be hosting live webinars over the next two weeks to review program details and to be available to answer questions. A recorded webinar will also be made available on the Corporation’s website. Interested proponents may contact: Jennifer Knight at jlknight@nlhc.nl.ca to register for a webinar session.
Quotes
“Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador welcomes the opportunity to partner with our private and community housing sectors to develop affordable rental housing and support increased economic activity throughout the province.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
“The Canadian Home Builders’ Association of Newfoundland and Labrador is thrilled with the announcement of the new Affordable Housing Program. This initiative is vital and we are thankful for the opportunity to provide feedback on the program. CHBA-NL looks forward to continuing to work with our government and its stakeholders to achieve the program’s goals.”
Alexis Foster
Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Home Builders Association-Newfoundland and Labrador
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Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
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BACKGROUNDER
Fact Sheet: Investment in Affordable Housing
Program Overview
The Affordable Rental Housing Program provides one-time capital funding in the form of a forgivable loan to assist in the creation of affordable rental housing units throughout the province. The program is funded by the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.
There are two distinct application streams – the Private Sector Stream and the Community Housing Sector Stream. Successful proponents will own and manage their project and rent to lower income households at or below rates established by the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. These rates will be based on annual rental market reports published by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
| Program Criteria | Private Sector Stream | Community Housing Sector Stream |
| Eligible Proponents | Private Owners/Operators | Non-Profit Organizations Housing Co-operatives Indigenous Organizations |
| Funding Per Unit | $55,000-$95,000 | $125,000-$180,000 |
| Affordability Period | 15-20 years | 25-30 years |
| Max. Household Incomes | $42,000 | $38,000 |
| Application Window | Round 1: June-August 31, 2023 | Open-ended (subject to change) |
What determines the funding level?
The funding amount is derived from a combination of project location and incentive criteria designed to encourage viable projects and target desired program outcomes. An online self-assessment tool is available here to help determine the level of available financial assistance.
Housing projects that support the development of age-friendly communities enable Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, including older adults with disabilities, to age in place with dignity and autonomy. For example, housing projects that include social or well-being multipurpose areas, inside and/or outdoors, contribute to age friendly design. Please contact the Affordable Housing Manager at arhp@nlhc.nl.ca or 709-724-3059 to discuss potential options for incorporating these elements, including related costs, within your project.
Additional Program Details
| Rate Type | Private Sector Rates | Community Housing Sector Rates | ||||||
| Bedroom | Bachelor | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | Bachelor | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
| St. John’s CMA | $665 | $730 | $880 | $840 | $585 | $645 | $775 | $740 |
| Island Communities | $650 | $700 | $795 | $820 | $575 | $620 | $705 | $725 |
| Labrador | $665 | $730 | $880 | $840 | $585 | $645 | $775 | $740 |
How to Apply
As part of the Provincial Government’s effort to improve health and social outcomes, the Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced plans to issue a call for proposals in May that will support the construction of more than 850 new affordable homes in the province’s rental market. This announcement stems from a new, three year, $70 million Affordable Housing Program that will include partnerships with private and non-profit sectors, municipalities and Indigenous organizations.
This is in addition to the more than 750 new housing options that have been created over the last two years or are under construction, in partnership with the Federal Government.
Joining Premier Furey in making the announcement was the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, Alexis Foster, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Home Builders Association-Newfoundland and Labrador and Kelly Heisz, Executive Director of SeniorsNL.
Highlighted in Budget 2023: Your Health. Our Priority. this new Affordable Housing Program will provide access to affordable housing for hundreds of families and individuals. The program will focus on seniors, and will support other vulnerable populations including young adults, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, immigrants, and people experiencing homelessness.
Quotes
“Every Newfoundlander and Labradorian deserves a safe space to call home, and our government recognizes that access to affordable housing is key to helping individuals and families build a stable and secure future. This $70 million investment for a new Affordable Housing Program allows us to develop a broad range of affordable rental housing options, throughout the province.”
Honourable Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“Everyone deserves a safe and affordable home. Our success with past community housing initiatives has proven that working with our private and non-profit sectors and other partners to develop new safe and affordable housing options, enables us to go further and do more. The program will also generate significant economic benefits to the retail and labour sectors of the housing industry.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
“The Canadian Home Builders’ Association of Newfoundland and Labrador is thrilled with the announcement of the new Affordable Housing Program in Budget 2023. This program is vital and we look forward to working with our government and its stakeholders to achieve the program’s goals.”
Alexis Foster
Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Home Builders Association-Newfoundland and Labrador.
“Inquiries to our organization from seniors looking for affordable housing have increased this year, especially as rents and the cost of living continues to rise. Easing the financial pressures that many seniors face is welcome news.”
Kelly Heisz
Executive Director
SeniorsNL
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Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, Yvonne Jones, Member of Parliament for Labrador and the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs and Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, announced more than $4.8 million to support the construction of a new seven-unit, second-stage housing project in Labrador City.
The Government of Canada is contributing $3.4 million to the Hope Haven Transition House through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund’s Women and Children Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative. The Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) will also provide Hope Haven Transition House with $1.4 million through the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Bilateral Agreement under the National Housing Strategy.
NLHC provides $9 million annually to the province’s 10 transition houses, of which Hope Haven receives approximately $700,000. This funding enables the transition houses to provide safe short-term accommodations, services and resources for women and children at risk of, or experiencing, violence.
In addition, Hope Haven Transition House will be contributing $50,000 towards the project, which will be constructed on property donated by the Town of Labrador City. The development will also receive a $200,000 contribution from the Iron Ore Company of Canada-Rio Tinto, as well as $5,000 from Tacora Resources. Construction is anticipated to commence in spring 2023, with a tentative completion date of July 2024.
This partnership between federal, provincial and community funding streams is a promising initiative that will cater to the housing needs of women and children who experience domestic or intimate partner violence in the Labrador West region. The project is a significant step towards addressing the housing challenges faced by vulnerable groups.
Quotes
“Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. That is why our government is committed to ensuring the safety and stability of Canadians, including right here in Labrador City. The Hope Haven Transition House will be a place of sanctuary for women and their children escaping family violence and this investment is meant to foster healing, rebuild lives and greater independence. This is the National Housing Strategy at work.”
Honourable Ahmed Hussen
Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion
“Everyone deserves to live a life free of violence. Working together with our federal, municipal and community partners, we are creating safe, supportive and affordable housing options for women and children who are experiencing or at risk of violence. These initiatives show what we can accomplish for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians by working collaboratively with partners.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
“Through the Women and Children Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative, our government is helping create safe environments where a child is able to learn and grow in a stable environment. This is why our government is providing funding to build and operate Hope Haven Transition House, right here in Labrador City. This will be a place of sanctuary for women and their children escaping family violence. It will provide an opportunity to rebuild lives and gain independence and will include access to critical support services.”
Yvonne Jones
Member of Parliament for Labrador
“The second-stage housing project is the result of a collaborative effort by the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to make a safe place for women and their children. Together with contributions from the Iron Ore Company of Canada, Tacora Resources, Hope Haven Transition House and the Town of Labrador City, the new housing unit will be a welcome addition in the community.”
Honourable Lisa Dempster
Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs
Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation
“Hope Haven has been providing services to women and their children experiencing violence in Labrador West for over 30 years. Second-stage housing will allow us to grow the continuum of supports and safe housing options and help reduce barriers for women leaving violence and abuse. Housing is a human right and is an essential piece of safety planning. We look forward to providing safe and affordable housing to our residents as we continue to work toward violence prevention.”
Nicole Young
Executive Director, Hope Haven Transition House
“IOC has been a partner of Hope Haven Women’s Transition House since it opened in 1989 in Labrador West. We have worked closely throughout the years to support education and awareness initiatives, fund programs, and partnered with them to provide a housing unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are pleased to commit $200,000 towards the second-stage housing project to help provide improved, safe and integrated services for women and children fleeing violence in our region.”
Mike McCann
President and CEO, Iron Ore Company of Canada-RioTinto
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Jenny Bowring
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Brittany Hendrych
Office of the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion
brittany-anne.hendrych@infc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
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LR: Nicole Young, Ex Director; Lorraine Hinks, Constituent Rep,
Julia Mullaley, CEO, NLHC; Noreen Careen, Bd Member, NLHC; &
Minister John Abbott.
More accessible and affordable public housing is being constructed in St. John’s for people with lower incomes.
The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador are investing $1.85 million to support the construction of eight new affordable housing units on Janeway Place, in Pleasantville, for households with lower incomes. The contract was recently awarded to CAN-AM Platforms and Construction Ltd. The project received $1.85 million in funding through the Government of Canada’s Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) as well as through Canada Community Housing Initiative with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Joanne Thompson, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, on behalf of the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, joined the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development and Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, and the Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and MHA for Virginia Waters-Pleasantville to view the construction site today.
Once completed, the development will consist of two, four-unit buildings. Each building will include two fully wheelchair-accessible, one-bedroom units on the main level, and two, one-bedroom units on the second level. Universal Design features will be incorporated throughout the building and include items such as widened exterior and interior doors and hallways, lever-type door handles and faucets.
Energy efficiency will also be a key element in the design and construction of the buildings. These homes will exceed the energy performance requirements of the 2015 National Energy Code for Buildings.
This new development builds on the Federal and Provincial Government’s commitment to expand affordable housing in Newfoundland and Labrador through the National Housing Strategy. Recently, a cost-shared $13.2 million federal/provincial investment was announced to support the construction of a 40-unit apartment complex, which will also be located in Pleasantville.
Quotes
Access to safe and affordable housing is vital to helping individuals and families build a stable and secure future. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador remains committed to working together with our Federal, Municipal and Indigenous Governments and community partners to develop new housing solutions to support the needs of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
“Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. The Rapid Housing Initiative is an effective way to stimulate the local economy, provide affordable housing options, and better meet the needs of people here in St. John’s and across Canada. I am thrilled to see construction for this project up and running. This is the National Housing Strategy at work.”
Joanne Thompson
Member of Parliament for St. John’s East.
“I am pleased to see construction starting on these much needed affordable housing units in the District of Virginia Waters-Pleasantville. Continued collaboration and partnership between the province and the Government of Canada is what makes important infrastructure developments like this possible.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and MHA for Virginia Waters-Pleasantville
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Jenny Bowring
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Media Relations
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
media@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
Margaret Warren
Constituency Assistant to Honourable Bernard Davis, MHA for Virginia Waters-Pleasantville
709-729-5980
margaretwarren@gov.nl.ca
(Left to right) Honourable John Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development and Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and MHA for Virginia Waters-Pleasantville Minister Bernie Davis, and MP Joanne Thompson, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, joined Max Day, Project Supervisor for CAN-AM Platforms and Construction Ltd., to view the construction site where eight new affordable housing units are being built on Janeway Place, in Pleasantville, St. John’s, NL.