Posted: March 8, 2010 at 2:08 pm | Tags: ACT, AFFORDABILITY, Association, building, canada, Canadian, CHBA, Choice, CHRA, CMHC, country, Douglas Stewart, FCM, home, Housing Market, planning, President Basil Stewart, President David Eddy, President Gary Friend, today
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) today announced 22 new grants to improve housing affordability for Canadians. The grants, totalling $99,700, are being awarded under CMHC’s Affordability and Choice Today (ACT) Initiative.
“CMHC is pleased to support the many municipalities, home builders and non-profit housing providers working to develop local housing solutions that will benefit the economy and revitalize communities across the country,” said Douglas Stewart, Vice-President, Policy and Planning, CMHC.
In operation since 1990, ACT provides grants of up to $5,000 to teams of municipalities and private or non-profit home builders who promote the improvement of planning and building regulations in their communities to make housing more affordable and responsive to local needs. ACT also offers a wealth of proven best practices and lessons learned so that communities can benefit from the innovations of others.
ACT is funded by CMHC and administered and delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), with the participation of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) and the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA).
“ACT assists municipalities, home builders and housing groups to work together on regulatory reforms that support innovation. ACT has a significant impact leading to the creation of new affordable housing options,” said FCM President Basil Stewart.
“By sharing information about how housing providers, builders and municipalities implemented changes, other local teams across the country can benefit when adopting those changes in their own communities,” added CHRA President David Eddy.
“ACT grants have helped home builders to work with municipalities to streamline approvals and eliminate hurdles in planning and building regulations in order to improve housing affordability and choice,” said CHBA President Gary Friend.
As Canada’s national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable, and affordable homes — homes that will continue to create vibrant, healthy communities and cities across the country.
Posted: November 12, 2009 at 9:27 am | Tags: Action, canada, Children, CMHC, construction, Corporation, Diane Finley, Economic, economy, facility, government, home, Honourable, Housing Market, Jim Kenyon, Minister Hart, Minister Responsible, Plan, Receiving, Senator Daniel Lang, Senator Lang, today, WHITEHORSE, youth, Yukon
WHITEHORSE, YUKON, November 10, 2009 — Senator Daniel Lang (Yukon), on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with the Honourable Jim Kenyon, Minister responsible for Yukon Housing Corporation and the Honourable Glenn Hart, Yukon Minister of Health and Social Services, launched the construction phase of Whitehorse Children’s Receiving Home today.
The $799,000 federal contribution to the project comes through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the government’s plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession. Recognizing the distinctive needs of the North, Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides $200 million, over two years, including $50 million for Yukon to support the renovation and the construction of new social housing units. 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 is committed to providing a hand up to those who need it the most,” said Senator Lang. “We are helping make an important difference in the lives of children and youth in Whitehorse who are trying to build a better future for themselves.”
“Yukon Housing Corporation is dedicated to providing housing for Yukoners,” said Jim Kenyon. “This boost in funding towards the Children’s Receiving Home will help ensure a safe place for youth who need it.”
The Children’s Receiving Home is a temporary home for children and youth who have been removed from their families because of abuse or neglect, and who need a period of assessment and stabilization. The funding announced today will go toward the construction of the eight units in this new facility. The new facility will be 4,200 square feet in size and built to the Yukon’s Super GreenHome standard for maximum energy efficiency.
“Yukon government is very excited about the construction of the new children’s receiving home,” said Minister Hart. “The old facility was no longer adequate for current programming needs and we are looking forward to a new safe and healthy environment for the young people who will live there.”
Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada’s commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over the next 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.
Posted: August 19, 2009 at 12:45 pm | Tags: Aboriginal, Alexander, canada, City, CMHC, Diane Finley, Executive Director, Ground, Habitat, HFHWE, home, Housing Market, Humanity, milestone, Minister Responsible, Ontario, Profit, Rick Farrow, today, Urban Native, Windsor
Moishe Alexander brings you the latest from CMHC and Habitat for Humanity
WINDSOR, ON, August 19, 2009 — Habitat for Humanity Windsor – Essex Inc. (HFHWE), Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Can-Am Urban Native Non-Profit Homes (Can-Am) joined together to break ground on a new home for a First Nations family today.
Today’s groundbreaking marks an important milestone for Habitat for Humanity Windsor – Essex. They are also celebrating 50 builds in the City of Windsor. Since 1994, HFH Windsor – Essex been coordinating volunteers and collecting building materials and funding to help families secure a home.
This build is the first Ontario partnership between an urban First Nation organization and Habitat to build a home specifically for a First Nations family under Habitat’s Aboriginal Housing Program that aims to help more Aboriginal families access homeownership. The Government of Canada, through CMHC, is a gold sponsor for Habitat for Humanity Canada and the lead national sponsor for Habitat for Humanity Aboriginal Housing Program.
“I would like to congratulate Habitat Windsor – Essex on this important milestone event,” said Jeff Watson, Member of Parliament for Essex, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for CMHC. “Affordable housing is an important part of our government’s commitment to build stronger, healthier and more sustainable communities. We are dedicated to working in partnership with organizations like Habitat to address housing needs in Ontario and across the country.”
All Habitat homes are built by volunteers and the successful applicant families under the supervision of professionals. This is a cost-effective way of producing a home while giving families the opportunity to participate in the construction of their own residence.
“It’s my great honour to work for this organization and its committed donors, partners, volunteers and staff on this landmark build,” says Laura Gould, Executive Director of HFHWE. “Seeing the difference these homes have made in the lives of children, is heart warming and visible proof that Habitat is indeed building hope.
“I’m elated to see that, in their 15th year, Habitat Windsor – Essex is completing their 50th partner home and building their first home for First Nations family,” says long-time supporter and past HFHWE President, Rick Farrow. “I applaud their continued efforts to address the ongoing housing concerns in our community.”
Also partnering on this project is Can-Am Urban Native Non-Profit Homes, which was started in 1988 by a group of volunteers who recognized an urgent need for affordable housing for First Nations people in the Windsor area. Currently, Can-Am has 81 single family homes, the Nash Kanonhsa Home and the Biimskiinodin Transitional House.
“As a Habitat supporter and build participant in previous years, we’re delighted to have assisted with the recruitment of a local First Nations family. The family is so grateful for this opportunity to reach their dream of home ownership,” says Margaret Messenger, Executive Director of Can-Am.
Overall, Can-Am strives to improve the socioeconomic well-being of First Nations residing in Windsor through various housing initiatives and provides leadership and involvement on various activities and projects.
As Canada’s national housing agency, CMHC has over 60 years experience helping Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable homes. For more than seven years, CMHC Ontario Region has supported Habitat through staff support and charitable activities. CMHC has supported this build with a $10,000 Seed funding commitment, as well as a $10,000 donation from staff charitable activities and its contributions through Habitat’s Aboriginal Housing Program.
Habitat for Humanity Windsor – Essex is a non-profit, faith-based organization working for a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. Their mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting home-ownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty.