April 7, 2010
Budget 2010's Five-year Economic Plan to Provide 400 More Social Housing Units This Year
– – –Two-year Total to Reach 600 Units, Build on Momentum of ALL Aboard Strategy: Irvin-Ross
Budget 2010 includes funding to create 400 additional social housing units as part of the Manitoba government’s commitment to create 1,500 units in the province over the next five years, Housing and Community Development Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross announced today.
“The development of social housing creates jobs and is good for the economy in addition to improving the living standards, and the dignity, safety and security of people who live there,” Irvin-Ross said. “This new commitment builds on the hard work we have already accomplished to make quality, affordable housing accessible to more Manitobans.”
An investment of almost $60 million included in Budget 2010 will allow for the construction of both social and affordable housing which are key components of Manitoba Moving Forward, the province’s five-year economic plan as well as the All Aboardpoverty-reduction strategy.
Irvin-Ross made the announcement today at Lord Selkirk Park, which has undergone $17 million in upgrades. Those upgrades are part of the $327-million HOMEWorks! plan that has already created an estimated 1,900 jobs and $96.5 million in spinoff economic activity, she said.
The job and spinoff figures, provided by the Manitoba Bureau of Statistics, are based on estimates of about $108 million that has been invested to renovate and upgrade 1,000 apartments and 200 single‑family Manitoba Housing units since the initiative was first announced in December 2008. Today’s announcement brings to 600 the number of social housing units to be created over two years.
At Lord Selkirk Park, more than $17 million is being invested in the over 40-year-old buildings to install energy-saving furnaces and water-conserving toilets as well as replace floors, walls and appliances. The retrofits involve some help from the North End Community Renewal Corporation and a BUILD (Building Urban Industries for Local Development) initiative that employs tenants and neighbourhood residents to perform energy- and water-saving retrofits.
HOMEWorks! provides assistance for low-income people who are involved in training to get additional work experience that may lead to other regular employment, the minister said.
“Involving people from the community in the renovations provides an excellent training opportunity and a great chance to move into the employment stream or take further education,” said Shaun Loney, executive director of BUILD. “It’s an inspiring process. Manitoba Housing is leading the country in this regard and should be congratulated for its efforts.”
BUILD’s work to date on Manitoba Housing units has reduced utility bills by $300,000 a year while, at the same time, has provided many people with valuable training in the trades, Irvin-Ross said.
“The goal of our Building Maintenance Construction Program is to provide training and employment for the inner-city community and over the past few years we’ve had some real success stories,” said Rob Neufeld, executive director of the North End Community Renewal Corporation. “Trainees learn job-skills such as discipline, confidence and teamwork. For some, this has been a life-changing experience, even leading to jobs with Manitoba Housing.”
Manitoba’s investments in affordable housing support Manitoba families and are a key pillar of this government’s $744-million ALL Aboard poverty-reduction strategy to build stronger, healthier communities, said Irvin-Ross.
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