November 21, 2008
Province Commits $1 Million To Help Habitat For Humanity, 10 Métis Families Build 10 New Homes
Working with Habitat for Humanity and the Winnipeg Métis Association, the Manitoba government has committed $1 million to help 10 low-to-moderate-income Métis families build new homes, Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.
“Affordable housing is an important step on the road to a productive, stable life.” said Mackintosh. “We want to help families navigate the path to success. Safe, secure, affordable housing is the right place to start.”
Manitoba will contribute $100,000 toward each new home through the Een Dah Aung (Our Home) Home Ownership program for Aboriginal off-reserve housing.
“We’re very excited about this partnership arrangement with Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg, governments and our Winnipeg region,” said David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF). “Strong families are the foundation of our people and giving families a leg up to grow and develop in a good home, which they have helped to build, is an outstanding way to build those strong families. We congratulate all the partners on their foresight.”
Energy efficiency in home construction is important, said Mackintosh. The new homes will be built to Manitoba Hydro’s Power Smart gold standard. Habitat and the selected families will build five homes in the first year and five the following year on the site of the former Sir Sam Steel School in the east Elmwood neighbourhood of Winnipeg.
“The partnership between the Métis community, government and Habitat for Humanity is a significant development as it will provide much-needed affordable housing for Winnipeg’s low-income working Métis families,” said Sandy Hopkins, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg. “By combining the money the federal and provincial governments have designated for Aboriginal housing and Habitat’s fundraising ability, we will construct new energy-efficient homes and allow 10 Métis families an opportunity for home ownership. The mortgage payments made by these 10 households will be directed to the building of future Habitat homes for Métis families and will help Métis people well into the future.”
Funding for this initiative comes from HOMEWorks!, a $104.5-million fund targeting homes for low‑income Manitobans and is part of the larger $188-million Housing First program announced in 2007. HOMEWorks! builds on other initiatives like the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative. HOMEWorks! focuses on inner-city revitalization including housing for refugees and immigrants, older Manitobans, urban Aboriginals, northern Manitobans and those who are homeless.
“Having Métis parents and children secure in their own home will bring tremendous benefits to the families as well as societal benefits to the community at large,” said Ron Chartrand, president of the Winnipeg Métis Association and vice-president of the MMF Winnipeg Region. “We are equally excited about the prospects of passing on building trade skills to our youth. We encourage all aspiring Métis homeowners to contact our office immediately at 204-589-4327 for application and contact information.”
Habitat for Humanity has built more than 150 homes in Winnipeg since 1987. Participants will be selected by Habitat for Humanity in conjunction with the Winnipeg Métis Association and will be required to complete 350 to 500 hours of sweat equity. It’s expected that construction on the first five homes will start in April 2009.
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