October 28, 2016
New Assisted Living Facility for Seniors Opens in Dominion City
DOMINION CITY—A new, unique assisted-living facility for seniors that offers the privacy of individual living units and the social benefits of communal meals and other group activities has officially opened its doors to tenants.
Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Manitoba Families Minister Scott Fielding announced the grand opening of Abbeyfield House in Dominion City today.
“Our government understands that finding suitable accommodation is a concern for many seniors,” said Duclos. “I am delighted that our government is helping to meet that need in Dominion City and across Manitoba. Congratulations and thank you to everyone involved in Abbeyfield House.”
Abbeyfield House is a $1.6-million bungalow-style, multi-family home with four studio and six one-bedroom units. Its shared living spaces include a kitchen, dining room, lounge and recreation area. The governments of Canada and Manitoba provided more than $566,000 to this project through the federal-provincial Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) 2014-2019 extension agreement.
“Abbeyfield House is a wonderful housing option for seniors who want to retain their independence, but also enjoy the companionship and social benefits of a communal environment,” said Fielding. “This grand opening is a special milestone for the community and for tenants and their families. The Manitoba government is proud to be a partner in this project, the first of its kind to follow the Abbeyfield housing model in our province.”
The property will be managed by Emerson-Franklin Heritage Holdings Inc. (EFHHI), which was created in 2014 by the Municipality of Emerson-Franklin to enhance housing, social and recreational services in the region. It is the first Manitoba-based affiliated member of the Abbeyfield Society of Canada, part of an international organization focused on providing communal housing to seniors. The Municipality of Emerson-Franklin donated the land for this project, valued at $100,000.
“The ability for seniors in our community to age in place is such a gift for a rural town like Dominion City,” said Dave Kirkpatrick, EFHHI chair. “The Abbeyfield House model with assisted living supports, along with the affordable housing assistance, will ensure seniors in our region will be able to remain close to family and friends for years to come.”
“The investment Manitoba and Canada have made in seniors housing in the Municipality of Emerson-Franklin exhibits true leadership in ensuring the sustainability of rural Manitoba,” said Reeve Greg Janzen. “This commitment, along with the passionate involvement of the Abbeyfield board made up of local citizens, will allow our seniors to remain in the community they call home.”
Eight units will be available at affordable rents of $414 per month for a studio suite and $587 for a one-bedroom suite. Two units will be available on a rent geared-to-income basis to accommodate lower-income households, with annual provincial support totalling about $3,500. The new building is accessible and also meets Manitoba Hydro’s Power Smart designation. A house manager will oversee all enhanced services for residents including meals in the shared dining area, laundry and light cleaning.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has been Canada’s authority on housing for over 70 years. CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to Canadian governments, consumers and the housing industry. Prudent risk management, strong corporate governance and transparency are cornerstones of CMHC’s operations. For more information, call 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca.
For more information about housing programs and services in Manitoba, visit www.gov.mb.ca/housing.
For more information about Abbeyfield House, visit www.abbeyfielddominioncity.ca. Learn more about the Abbeyfield Society of Canada at www.abbeyfield.ca.
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