September 10, 2010
Boost to Social Housing in Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba – The Governments of Canada and Manitoba today announced $102 million in joint funding for the development of new social housing units and improvements to existing social housing units throughout the province. The approved work for 9,724 units at 163 projects will enhance housing quality and accessibility.
The announcement was made today by the Honourable Greg Selinger, Premier of Manitoba, and the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
“Rejuvenating housing creates healthier, more vibrant neighbourhoods for the families who live there,” said Premier Selinger. “The significant investment we are announcing today is an effective way to ensure there is safe, affordable and well-maintained housing in Manitoba. Our government is committed to creating jobs now when they are needed, building vital infrastructure and improving the quality of life for Manitobans.”
“In its second year, our Government’s Economic Action Plan is stimulating the economy and creating jobs,” said Minister Toews. “Projects like these are a good way to get the local economy moving and put construction workers and trades people to work. Most importantly, they are giving a hand-up to those in need during the global recession here in Manitoba and across Canada.”
Some of the funding announced today will go towards repairs and modifications for 9,489 social housing units. The remaining funding has been designated for the construction of 235 new affordable rental units in the province.
The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment of $158 million under the amended Canada-Manitoba Affordable Housing Program Agreement. The federal funding was made available through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government’s plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for new and existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.
The Government of Canada wants to improve the quality of existing social housing for low-income seniors, single parent families, recent immigrants and Aboriginal households. Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides $850 million under the Affordable Housing Initiative to provinces and territories for the renovation and retrofit of existing social housing, as well as $475 million to build new rental housing for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities over two years.
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. HOMEWorks! supports ALLAboard, Manitoba’s Poverty Reduction strategy by increasing the supply of quality, affordable housing for low-income Manitobans. More information about HOMEWorks! is available at www.gov.mb.ca/housing.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada’s commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless.
More information on this and other measures in Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government’s plan to stimulate the economy and protect those hit hardest by the global recession, can be found at: www.actionplan.gc.ca.
To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan.
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backgrounder
Social Housing Projects - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2010/9/SocialHousingBG.PR.doc