Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. That is why the Governments of Canada and of Newfoundland and Labrador celebrated with two new Habitat for Humanity partner-families today, at a home dedication ceremony held in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
The Honourable Brian Warr, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, and Yvonne Jones, Member of Parliament for Labrador, on behalf of the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), attended the event today.
They were joined by the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs, and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, Perry Trimper, MHA for Lake Melville and Wally Anderson, Mayor of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
The two, three-bedroom homes represent an equally cost-shared investment of $170,000 through the 2014-19 Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement between the Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada. The Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay also donated the land for the homes.
Since 1994, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has also contributed land, labour and/or funding toward 58 Habitat for Humanity Newfoundland and Labrador builds throughout the province.
Quotes
“Our government is committed to revitalizing and building stronger neighbourhoods and towns. Today is about more than just building houses; it’s about working in partnership to create new beginnings and to assist families in becoming more self-sufficient through affordable home ownership.”
Honourable Brian Warr
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
“Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Investments in projects like this one here in Happy Valley-Goose Bay demonstrated that our government is committed to providing access to safe, affordable homes for well-deserving families in all corners of our country.”
Yvonne Jones
Minister of Parliament for Labrador
“Affordable, sustainable housing continues to be an issue across Newfoundland and Labrador. Here at Habitat, we mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership. We believe that everyone deserves a safe, decent affordable place to live. Today we celebrate the hard work and determination of two families who have realized their dream of homeownership.”
Sandra Whiffen
Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Newfoundland and Labrador
Learn more
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
Habitat for Humanity Newfoundland and Labrador
National Housing Strategy
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
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Media contacts
Jenny Bowring
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Jessica Eritou
Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
jessica.eritou@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Anne-Marie Coulombe
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
acoulomb@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC), today announced $732,000 to fund a temporary low-barrier emergency shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness.
A low-barrier shelter will provide more access to those in need of a safe place to shelter with an emphasis on accepting individuals as they are and supporting them to secure more stable housing options.
Premier Ball and Minister Dempster announced the funding at The Gathering Place in St. John’s, the site of the interim emergency shelter. This temporary 30-bed shelter which will be open from 8:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. seven days a week shelter will be operational by September 2020 and will support an effective response to any second wave of COVID-19 that may occur.
Meanwhile, work is underway to develop a permanent low-barrier shelter through a request for proposals, which will be issued by NLHC within the coming week.
Quotes
“The addition of a low-barrier shelter is a much needed response along the housing continuum that will better serve the needs of those experiencing homelessness in our community. Establishment of a temporary shelter at this time is reflective of the many collaborative efforts between government and community partners in responding to the needs of vulnerable persons during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Honourable Dwight Ball
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“Operating with a harm reduction approach, this low-barrier shelter will draw upon the expertise of the non-profit sector working in partnership with NLHC and Eastern Health to respond to the complex and underlying needs of those experiencing homelessness. This interim shelter will help guide the planning that is underway for the design and programming needs for a permanent low-barrier shelter.”
Honourable Lisa Dempster
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
“This pandemic time, beginning in the late winter and early spring, made more visible and more real the need for a low-barrier emergency shelter in St. John’s. We are pleased that, through a truly collaborative relationship including Government, Eastern Health, community partners and The Gathering Place, we are now putting in place a temporary “Out of the Cold” shelter and program.”
Sister Elizabeth Davis, rsm
Chair, The Gathering Place
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Media contacts
Jeremy Reynolds
Office of the Premier
709-729-3558
jeremyreynolds@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
The Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development and Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, has recognized today as National Housing Day.
Since 1998, November 22 has been recognized throughout the country as a day to raise awareness about housing and homelessness and highlight how governments and community partners can work together to address these needs.
This past April, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador signed the 2019-2028 Bilateral Agreement that will provide a total of $270.6 million to help preserve, renew and expand social and community housing for families and individuals throughout the province.
In addition to preserving the current portfolio, this commitment will bring new housing solutions on stream which will be available to those most in need, well into the future. Investments in housing also support many other provincial priorities, including poverty reduction, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic stability.
In keeping with provisions of the Bilateral Agreement, we are working with the Federal Government to develop an action plan which identifies how the funding will be applied. That plan is also the key document on which our Provincial Housing and Homelessness Plan will be based. This provincial plan will endeavour to address housing challenges at all stages of the housing continuum, from homelessness to home ownership.
Quote
“On National Housing Day, we celebrate our community partners who help transform lives one day and one person at a time, and we reassert our commitment to partnership and to helping Newfoundlanders and Labradorians find and maintain a safe and affordable place to call home.”
Honourable Lisa Dempster
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
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Provincial and Federal Governments Announce $270 Million Housing Agreement
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
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Media contact
Jenny Bowring
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Two new Habitat for Humanity partner families will soon realize their dream of homeownership. The Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Children Seniors and Social Development, and Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, along with Yvonne Jones, Member of Parliament for Labrador, joined the families and project partners to celebrate at a sod-turning ceremony in Happy Valley-Goose Bay today.
The two Habitat for Humanity homes represent an equally cost-shared investment of $170,000 through the 2014-19 Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement between the Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada. The Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay provided the land for the project.
By the end of 2019, the Federal and Provincial Governments will have contributed approximately $1.7 million in funding to Habitat for Humanity homes throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
Quotes
“Habitat for Humanity helps build more than homes. They help build communities. As a government, we are so pleased to partner with Habitat, the Federal Government and the town to develop affordable housing solutions and create opportunities for community engagement. By working together with our community, non-profit and private sector partners, we can help bring stability, self-reliance and hope through housing to many more people.”
Honourable Lisa Dempster
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
“All Canadians deserve access to adequate housing. Our government remains committed to working with our partners to develop and implement solutions to housing both in Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada. This investment will create two new homes for deserving families – homes they can proudly call their own. This is something our government is, and will always be a proud to work for.”
Yvonne Jones
Member of Parliament for Labrador
“We are very pleased to partner with the Provincial and Federal Governments and the Town of Happy Valley Goose Bay on this new build project for two families. We mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership, it’s a hand up, not a hand out, where everyone has a safe, decent and affordable place to live.”
Sandra Whiffen
Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Newfoundland and Labrador
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Learn more
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL, @CSSD_GovNL and @nlhousing
Media contacts
Jenny Bowring
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Valérie Glazer
Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
613-220-1841
valerie.glazer@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Leonard Catling
CMHC
604-787-1787
lcatling@cmhc-schl.gc.ca