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WINNIPEG – JUNE 21, 2010 – The Governments of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg, today announced $7.5 million for four Aboriginal housing projects to provide affordable accommodation for Winnipeg’s Aboriginal community.

 

The Honourable Kerri Irvin-Ross, Minister of Housing and Community Development, Rod Bruinooge, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Mike Pagtakhan, city councillor for Point Douglas, made the announcement today in Winnipeg.

 

“Building affordable housing breathes new life into neighbourhoods by strengthening communities and providing a foundation for families,” said Minister Irvin-Ross. “In communities across this province, HOMEWorks! is helping low-income Manitobans acquire their own homes.”

 

“Our government is giving a hand-up to Canadians with housing needs, and is helping those seeking to break free of the cycle of homelessness and poverty,” said Mr. Bruinooge. “Through these investments, various organizations in Winnipeg are able to help and support those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.”

 

“Projects like these that come to life with not only financial support, but support from the neighbourhood empowers those in our community with low-incomes and provides hope for the future,” said Mr. Pagtakhan. “It can turn lives filled with uncertainly into lives that involve a safe, clean and comfortable place to come home to.”

  

Funding provided for the projects through all three levels of government includes:   

·         $4.2million to Kekinan Housing Inc. to construct a three-storey 30-unit housing complex for low-to-moderate income Aboriginal seniors. 

·         $2.3 million to the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development to construct a 15-unit townhouse style complex, consisting of two buildings to provide affordable housing to low-income Aboriginal families. 

·         $504,000 to Manitoba Tipi Mitawa Inc for seven low-to-moderate-income first-time Aboriginal homeowners by providing down payment assistance and mortgage subsidies to eligible first-time homebuyers.  

·         $500,000 to Winnipeg Habitat for Humanity Inc to assist Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council to construct five homes for Aboriginal families.

 

Through Manitoba’s Long-Term Housing Strategy, HOMEWorks!, the Province of Manitoba and Government of Canada are contributing $378 million over two years for housing initiatives in Winnipeg and across the province. More information about HOMEWorks! is available at www.gov.mb.ca/housing.

 

These investments are being delivered through the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative (WHHI), a partnership between the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg. The partners work together to deliver funding provided through each level of government for affordable housing, to address homelessness, and to assist in 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.

 

The WHHI housing programs are funded by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Manitoba Housing, and the City of Winnipeg, and homelessness programs are funded through the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnership Strategy (HPS). 

 

These investments are part of the Government of Canada’s $1.9-billion commitment for housing and homelessness announced in 2008. This ongoing funding will ensure that the Government can continue to assist low-income Canadians, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal people, including those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.