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Transformation Of Manitoba Housing Unveiled By Mackintosh

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10-point, $84-million BUILDINGFoundations Action Plan Includes Management and Service Overhaul, Housing Revitalization, Security Improvements

Manitoba Housing will undergo an operational transformation, homes will be revitalized and security will be bolstered under a 10-point action plan, Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.

 

“Manitobans deserve decent and safe housing.  Our investments in renovations, maintenance, new playgrounds and security will contribute to an improved quality of life for the 30,000 Manitobans who live in public housing,” said Mackintosh. 

 

As a part of the $188-million HOUSINGFirst! low-income housing strategy, $84 million will be invested over three years under a 10-point BUILDINGFoundations action plan:

1.      Operational Transformation (see backgrounder A) - Based on a government-commissioned report by KPMG, which identified critical issues and offered long-term solutions, a transformation office will implement the following over the next two fiscal years:

 

2.      Home Revitalization Initiative (see backgrounder B) - Based on the recommendations of the KPMG report, doubling the three-year investment to $72 million in a new preventative maintenance, energy-efficiency and asset management plan.  This includes:

 

3.      Foundations for Safety (See backgrounder C) - Beginning April 2008, a new six-point security initiative will include the following:

·         Project Safe Home will:

-          train property managers and superintendents in crime prevention;

-          enforce a clarified eviction policy for even one criminal offence that poses an immediate risk to tenants, or for drug dealing or use, possession or storage of unlawful firearms, prostitution or sexual abuse and child exploitation under the Safer Communities law;

-          require new minimum security measures, including installation of deadbolts and peepholes for doors, and adequate lighting by December 2009; and

-          increase tenant crime prevention through new guidebooks and tenant orientation.

·         A new dedicated Safer Communities team will be created to act on confidential complaints from tenants.

·         A property damage restitution initiative will be established.

·         Closed-circuit TV and card access will be expanded.

·         A rapid graffiti removal and prevention campaign will be launched.

·         A new office of fire safety will be established.

 

4.      Children’s Playgrounds - $600,000 will be invested to build new playgrounds and landscape properties throughout Manitoba starting in Winnipeg, Thompson, Churchill and Brandon.

 

5.      Community Enrichment Plan - $200,000 will be invested in life skills, literacy and training to help improve the quality of life for tenants by establishing:

·         a child-care and adult literacy program for Lord Selkirk Park,

·         a youth mentorship program at Gilbert Park,

·         resource centres with funding partners and the Family Centre of Winnipeg at another three locations in addition to the African resource centre which has been established on Kennedy Street, and

·         consultations to voluntarily transform four housing complexes into co-ops.

 

6.      Building Foundations Bursary - Each year, up to nine student residents will be awarded $1,000 each through a $200,000 fund to help improve education opportunities for MHRC tenants.  Nine bursaries have been awarded this year.

 

7.      More and Better Tenant Services -

 

8.      Mould Prevention and Removal Strategy -A new MHA environmental officer will be hired in 2008-09 to oversee Manitoba Housing’s mould prevention and removal strategy:

 

9.      10-year Housing Strategy for Manitoba - In response to the KPMG recommendations, long‑range goals and options to address housing needs will be developed in consultation with the Institute of Urban Studies at the University of Winnipeg and be concluded by the end of March 2009.

 

10.Enhanced Outside Agency Accountability - Stronger vigilance and support for 440 arm’s‑length, community-based, volunteer housing boards will include more operational reviews, strengthened funding agreements and board governance training.  The number of operational reviews will be doubled to 32 this year and 20 new staff positions have been added to implement the new policy.

 

The initial review stage of the KPMG report cost $164,525. The second phase, including a comprehensive implementation plan, strategies and solutions to address the identified issues cost $716,975.  By streamlining operations and enhancing efficiencies, KPMG estimates $1 million in savings each year.

 

The report is available at www.gov.mb.ca/buildingfoundations.

 

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