As part of Budget 2024’s record investment in housing, the Provincial Government is investing $20 million to construct 50 provincially owned units in Corner Brook, helping to increase access to stable, safe and affordable housing for individuals and families in the western region.
The project will include multi-unit buildings that feature a combination of one- and two-bedroom homes, the greatest area of need in the current social housing portfolio. The majority of these homes will be built in the Crestview Avenue area of Corner Brook. The project scope will also include the demolition of 32 existing long-term vacancies in the area, paving the way for new modern, accessible and energy efficient homes.
The Honourable Fred Hutton, Minister of Housing, was in Corner Brook today to highlight this important investment in the community. Minister Hutton was joined by the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills and MHA for Corner Brook, as well as His Worship Jim Parsons, Mayor of Corner Brook, Pamela Gill, Corner Brook councillor and chair of the City of Corner Brook Community Partners Standing Committee, and Jenny Brake, Acting Chief of the Qalipu First Nation.
A tender for the demolition stage of the project will be issued in the coming weeks. A request for proposals for construction will be issued shortly thereafter, and will encourage developers to consider various design approaches, including traditional and modular building methods.
Construction of all 50 homes is anticipated to be complete by 2026.
The Provincial Government continues to invest in programs and projects that will increase access to affordable rental housing throughout the province. This includes 10 projects conditionally approved under the Affordable Rental Housing Program in the western region, as well as a series of actions under the Five-Point Plan to Improve Access to Housing that is Affordable.
Quotes
“Budget 2024 includes the highest-ever provincial investment in housing, helping to support the well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians by increasing access to safe and affordable housing. This investment will support 50 individuals or families in Corner Brook to secure homes they can afford within their existing community.”
Honourable Fred Hutton
Minister of Housing
“This substantial investment will help to address the need for affordable, modern, high-quality, energy-efficient housing options in Corner Brook. These homes will become part of the solution to some of the greatest areas of housing demand. I look forward to seeing these units take shape across Corner Brook and ultimately giving 50 individuals and families access to safe, accessible and affording housing.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills and MHA for Corner Brook
“I am thankful to the province and Minister Hutton for listening to the city and our regional partners and making this significant investment in the region. Fifty units will go a long way in providing necessary affordable housing for people who need it.”
His Worship Jim Parsons
Mayor of Corner Brook
“This investment in housing in the community of Corner Brook is much needed and appreciated. We are guided by the belief that housing is a human right and, as an Indigenous organization, we are pleased to work together with the province to ensure that our community members are supported with access to stable, safe and affordable housing.”
Jenny Brake
Acting Chief, Qalipu First Nation
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Learn more
Budget 2024 – Transforming Our Health. Our Economy. Our Province.
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Media contacts
Marc Budgell
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing
709-724-3025, 709-727-5843
mtbudgell@nlhc.nl.ca
Ryan Butt
City of Corner Brook
709-632-8113
rbutt@cornerbrook.com
Alison Muise
Qalipu First Nation
709-649-7194
amuise@qalipu.ca
The Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada today announced a new agreement to modernize and upgrade more than 850 Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) homes province-wide. This funding will complement the ongoing work of the Provincial Government to undertake repairs and renovations to its inventory of public housing.
The Affordable Housing Fund (formerly known as the National Housing Co-Investment Fund) includes $8.7 million in federal funding over three years to support renovations or repairs that include energy efficiency and accessibility improvements to existing NLHC homes.
Renovations through this fund will result in a reduction in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of at least 25 per cent from the homes covered by the fund and will result in an additional 170 homes receiving accessibility upgrades.
This funding complements the existing NLHC repairs budget of more than $20 million over that same time period.
In October 2023, the Provincial Government increased the NLHC’s renovations budget by $3 million, allowing for repairs and renovations to an additional 143 homes. As of February 23, work is complete on 123 of these homes and underway on another 19 homes.
NLHC continues to advance initiatives to increase access to stable, safe and affordable housing as part of the Provincial Government’s overall commitment to improving the social and economic well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. This includes:
To learn more about the five-point plan and other NLHC programs, visit nlhc.nl.ca.
Quotes
“As we work to increase access to affordable housing in Newfoundland and Labrador, it is also important that we continue to repair and modernize our existing homes. In partnership with the Federal Government, this agreement will make NLHC’s housing portfolio more sustainable over the long-term, ensuring our homes are available to more families.”
Honourable Paul Pike
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
“NLHC housing brings a safe, affordable place to call home within reach for so many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. We’re helping them fix up existing homes to give people in our communities a roof over their head. They’re strengthening our local housing stock. That’s work we’re proud to invest in.”
Honourable Seamus O’Regan
Minister of Labour and Seniors and Member of Parliament for St. John’s South–Mount-Pearl on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
Learn more
Significant Progress Made in Repairs and Renovations of Provincially Owned Vacant Units
Provincial Government Launches Five-Point Plan to Improve Availability of Housing That is Affordable
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Media contacts
Marc Budgell
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-727-5843
mtbudgell@nlhc.nl.ca
Micaal Ahmed
Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
micaal.ahmed@infc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
media@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Quick Facts
The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) provides funding through low-interest and/or forgivable loans or contributions to partnered organizations for new affordable housing and the renovation and repair of existing, affordable and community housing. This is a $14.2 billion program under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) that gives priority to projects that help people who need it most, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous Peoples, people living with disabilities, those with mental health or addiction issues, veterans, and young adults.
Visit Canada.ca/housing for the most requested Government of Canada housing information.
CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC’s aim is that everyone in Canada has a home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, follow us on X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.
As part of the Provincial Government’s continued efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing in Newfoundland and Labrador, applications opened today for the Secondary and Basement Suite Incentive pilot program.
In October 2023, this initiative was announced as one of the pillars of the Five-Point Plan to help make housing more affordable for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians by supporting the creation of more housing. This program will allow homeowners to access a forgivable loan of 50 per cent of the cost of renovations, up to a maximum of $40,000, to create a new, self-contained secondary or basement suite within their home.
These loans will be fully forgivable, provided the new unit is rented out below market rates for a minimum of five years. The rental rates will be established by the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC), based on annual rental market reports published by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Criteria to qualify for the incentive include:
A full list of program criteria, as well as information on how to apply, can be found on the NLHC website here. A full list of eligible costs under the program can be found in the backgrounder below.
Total funding for the program is $4 million and eligible applicants will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis until all funding is allocated.
Quotes
“Our government continues to invest in creative solutions to increase access to both housing that is affordable and provincially owned social housing in our province. This incentive will support homeowners to create upwards of 100 new basement apartments or secondary suites, helping families find an affordable place to live within existing communities and near existing services. We will continue to advance initiatives under the five-point plan to help meet demand for affordable housing throughout the province.”
Honourable Paul Pike
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
“The Canadian Home Builders’ Association of Newfoundland and Labrador is optimistic that this program will not only provide more rental options for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, but also create opportunities for our members to complete projects integral to increasing the housing supply in our province.”
Alexis Foster
Executive Officer
Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Newfoundland and Labrador
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Learn more
Provincial Government Launches Five-Point Plan to Improve Availability of Housing That is Affordable
Proposals Invited for Development of Land for Rental Housing That is Affordable
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Media contact
Marc Budgell
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-727-5843
mtbudgell@nlhc.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
List of Eligible Costs Covered Under the Secondary and Basement Suite Incentive Program
The following list includes costs that can be covered under the Secondary and Basement Suite Incentive Program:
Eligible costs:
Costs that are not eligible include:
Any cost not covered by either list must be approved by NLHC prior to work commencing. For more information, visit Secondary Basement Suite Incentive Program FAQ.
With anticipated cold weather conditions, the Provincial Government is advising individuals experiencing homelessness to contact Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation’s emergency shelter line at 1-833-724-2444 for assistance with temporary accommodations.
Safe Haven Shelter at 10 St. Clare Avenue in St. John’s serves as a warming centre in times of inclement weather. The emergency shelter line will identify other options for those calling from outside the St. John’s metro region.
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Media contact
Jenny Bowring
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca