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News Release - Canada, Manitoba and Winnipeg

Ten Infill Housing Units In Winnipeg's Centennial Neighbourhood



WINNIPEG, May 30, 2008 – A new infill housing project in Winnipeg’s Centennial neighbourhood will provide homes for ten families. The project received over $730,000 in funding from the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative (WHHI). WHHI is a partnership between the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg.
 
Flor Marcelino, Wellington MLA, on behalf of Manitoba Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh; Mike Pagtakhan, Point Douglas Councillor; and representatives of the federal government, were at the ground-breaking ceremony today at 598 Alexander Avenue.
 
“The Government of Canada is delivering on our commitment to create affordable housing in Manitoba and across Canada,” said Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, on behalf of Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development. “We are pleased to be working with our partners to help low-income families in Winnipeg build a better and stronger future.”
 
“When people have affordable homes, they have a foundation to build success in all aspects of their lives,” said Marcelino. “With HOMEWorks! we support individuals and families who in turn build strong neighbourhoods and communities.”
 
“The City of Winnipeg has an important role to play in working with the other levels of government, the private sector, and development organizations such as the WHRC to promote and encourage neigbourhood revitalization in older areas of the city,” said Pagtakhan.  “These new housing units will provide a renewal to this street and provide people with the opportunity to live in a new home in an established neighbourhood.”
 
The Winnipeg Housing Rehabilitation Corporation is building ten single-family affordable homes in the Centennial neighbourhood. The homes, to be built on Alexander Avenue and Pacific Avenue, will be for sale to low- to moderate-income households. First-time homebuyers are eligible to receive Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance (HDPA).   
 
“This project could not have been taken from concept to reality without the efforts of the Centennial Community Improvement Association, B.U.I.L.D., and with funding provided by WHHI,” said Menno Peters, General Manager, WHRC. “The ceremony today provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the revitalization of the Centennial neighbourhood and the homes that will be constructed will assist the Community to accomplish its goals.”
 
The total cost of the project is $1.5 million. WHHI funding includes: $551,656 from the Province of Manitoba’s HOMEWorks! program and up to $178,400 from the City of Winnipeg in funding and land costs.
 
In April 2007, the Province of Manitoba unveiled HOUSING First, a four pillar, $188 million, low-income housing strategy including HOMEWorks! – a $104.5 million initiative to help provide affordable homes for low-income Manitobans in five areas that were identified by stakeholders to provide a stronger foundations for healthy families and communities. The priorities include: inner-city revitalization; older Manitobans; urban Aboriginals; northern Manitobans; and homeless Manitobans. For more information, please visit www.manitoba.ca/fs and select housing from the left hand side navigation.
 
The Winnipeg Housing Rehabilitation Corporation (WHRC) was founded by the City of Winnipeg in the late 1970's. WHRC is a non-profit organization that develops and manages affordable housing in Winnipeg. During the last three decades WHRC has developed over 700 housing units for Winnipeg residents. WHRC's housing projects include renovated warehouses, apartment buildings, single family homes, duplexes and triplexes. WHRC focus has been on the revitalization of Winnipeg's inner city neighbourhoods.
 
For more information about WHRC and its programs, please visit www.whrc.ca or call 949-2880.
 
WHHI funding is co-ordinated by the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg to address homelessness, declining housing stock and the revitalization of Winnipeg’s older neighbourhoods. Since 2000, the WHHI partnership has committed over $138 million to repair, rehabilitate, or construct over 5,000 housing units as well as assist those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The WHHI is a single-window office for community organizations to access information on government-funded housing and homelessness programs. For more information, visit www.whhi.ca.
 
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Backgrounder
The Winnipeg Housing And Homelessness Initiative At Work In The Centennial Neighbourhood - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2008/2008may/CentennialWHHI.FS.doc