Posted: April 7, 2010 at 8:20 am | Tags: Action, Alexander, announcement, Applegate, behalf, Brantford, canada, CMHC, Co-operative, Diane Finley, Economic, Funding, government, Hamilton, Housing Market, Ken Elliott, Life, Maureen Zotzman, Minister Responsible, MP McColeman, Ontario, Phil McColeman, Plan, quality, Renovation, today
Posted by Moishe Alexander
The Government of Canada announced today that three co-operatives located in Brantford and Hamilton will receive more than $270,000 through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, as part of the social housing renovation and retrofit investments.
The announcement was made at Applegate Co-operative Housing in Brantford by Phil McColeman, Member of Parliament for Brant, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is taking action to help ensure our economic recovery and create the conditions for long-term growth,” said MP McColeman. “Funding renovation and retrofit projects, like this one, will not only improve the quality of life of its residents by keeping their homes safe and affordable, but it will also help stimulate the local economy and create local jobs.”
The Government of Canada, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, announced $1 billion for social housing renovation and retrofit. Of the $1 billion, $850 million is being delivered by provinces and territories on a cost-matched basis for existing federally assisted social housing projects which they administer on behalf of the partnership. The remaining $150 million is being delivered by CMHC for existing federally assisted off-reserve housing which it directly administers. Eligible repairs include general improvements, energy efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications in support of persons with disabilities.
The housing co-operatives that will receive contributions from the Government of Canada being announced today are:
Applegate Co-operative Housing (Brantford) $74,886
Wicklow Co-operative Homes (Brantford) $97,069
Appleridge Co-operative Homes Inc. (Hamilton) $99,144
“We applaud and thank the federal government, MP McColeman and CMHC for making a solid investment to help renovate and retrofit these affordable homes,” said Ken Elliott, President of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada. “Today’s announcement for those three non-profit housing co-operatives is an excellent example of stimulus funding that works towards preserving jobs, assisting the local economy and protecting valuable affordable housing assets for Canadians.”
“We are very pleased to be receiving the Renovation and Retrofit grant through Canada’s Economic Action Plan to improve our cooperative,” said Maureen Zotzman, President, Applegate Co-operative Homes Incorporated. “These significant renovations will have a tremendous positive impact for our members and their quality of life.”
Posted: March 18, 2010 at 9:35 am | Tags: Brian Smith, Bruce Stanton, CMHC, Coral Co-operative Housing Corp., Couchiching Co-operative Homes Inc, Creating Jobs, Mary Dempsey, Ontario, Orillia, Renovation, Social Housing
The Government of Canada announced today that two co-operatives located in Orillia will receive more than $158,000 through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, as part of the social housing renovation and retrofit investments.
The announcement was made at Couchiching Co-operative Homes Inc. by Bruce Stanton, Member of Parliament for Simcoe North, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is taking action to help ensure our economic recovery and create the conditions for long-term growth,” said MP Stanton. “Funding renovation and retrofit projects, like this one, will not only improve the quality of life of its residents by keeping their homes safe and affordable, but it will also help stimulate the local economy and create jobs.”
The Government of Canada, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, announced $1 billion for social housing renovation and retrofit. Of the $1 billion, $850 million is being delivered by provinces and territories on a cost-matched basis for existing federally assisted social housing projects which they administer on behalf of the partnership. The remaining $150 million is being delivered by CMHC for existing federally assisted off-reserve housing which it directly administers. Eligible repairs include general improvements, energy efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications in support of persons with disabilities.
The housing co-operatives that will receive contributions from the Government of Canada being announced today are:
Couchiching Cooperative Homes Inc. $68,265
Coral Co-operative Housing Corp. $90,510
“We applaud and thank the federal government, Mr. Stanton and CMHC for making a solid investment to help renovate and retrofit these affordable homes,” said Ken Elliott, President of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada. “Today’s announcement for both non-profit housing co-operatives is an excellent example of stimulus funding that works towards preserving jobs, assisting the local economy and protecting valuable affordable housing assets for Canadians.”
“The members of Couchiching Co-operative Homes greatly appreciate CMHC’s approval of our grant application to have new insulation added to the attics of our townhouse units and the apartment building. According to the members of the co-op, this has already shown significant savings on utility bills,” said Mary Dempsey, President of the Board of Directors of Couchiching Co-operative Homes. “We are also in the process of receiving new storm doors and patio doors to replace the deteriorating, 24-year-old doors, thanks to the Canadian Government and CMHC Renovation and Retrofit grants.”
“We are delighted that our co-operative will benefit from the federal government’s renovation and retrofit initiative delivered by CMHC” said Brian Smith, President of The Coral Co-op in Orillia. “This funding has literally provided the roof over our heads and without the grant this work could not have been completed.”
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: March 11, 2010 at 9:10 am | Tags: Action, Affordable, Agreement, B.C, British Columbia, canada, Centre, City, Diane Finley, Economic, emergency, government, Harry Bloy, homelessness, Housing Market, Karen, Minister Responsible, New Westminster, Plan, province, quality, Renovation, Russell, Senator Yonah Martin, shelter, Wayne Wright
The governments of Canada and British Columbia officially opened the Russell Housing Centre (formerly College Place Hotel), which will provide emergency shelter and supportive housing for adults at risk of homelessness in New Westminster.
“Canada’s Economic Action Plan is stimulating the economy and creating jobs during the global recession here in British Columbia and across Canada,” said Senator Yonah Martin, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).This is a good way to get the local economy moving and put construction workers and tradespeople to work quickly, as well as improving the quality of existing social housing, giving a hand-up to those families who need it most.”
“The Province is committed to providing increased access to safe, affordable, supportive housing for our most vulnerable people, and that is why we’ve provided $10.4 million for the purchase and renovation of the Russell Housing Centre,” said Harry Bloy, MLA for Burnaby – Lougheed. “Combining emergency shelter with transitional housing under one roof is an effective method to help break the cycle of homelessness here in New Westminster and across British Columbia.”
The Russell Housing Centre is a designated heritage building that has been renovated to provide 40 single-room occupancy (SRO) hotel units and 15 shelter beds and will provide emergency shelter and social housing for adults at risk of homelessness in New Westminster. Through the amended Canada – British Columbia Affordable Housing Agreement, the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia are contributing $1.1 million for repairs and renovations to the 40 SRO units.
“This development makes a significant contribution to the City’s continuum of housing, enabling our locally homeless population to access quality shelter and support services. It also preserves an important piece of the City’s heritage,” said New Westminster Mayor Wayne Wright.
Lookout Emergency Aid Society manages and operates the Russell Housing Centre. The Centre will be open 24 hours, 365 days a year, and will provide such basics as shelter, food and laundry, as well as support and assistance to men who are without a home. Tenants will receive life skills training on cooking and nutrition, budgeting and basic hygiene, gaining the necessary skills to move towards living independently.
“Helping people identify and plan around their challenges, linking them to needed services will help prevent them from becoming homeless again,” said Karen O’Shannacery, executive director of Lookout Emergency Aid Society. “Our long-standing partnership with the Province and BC Housing has played a pivotal role in the creation of many of Lookout’s supportive housing developments.”
The Housing Renovation Partnership is the result of a $365-million joint investment under an amendment to the Canada – British Columbia Affordable Housing Agreement, which includes funding through Canada’s Economic Action Plan and by the Government of British Columbia. The Housing Renovation Partnership will provide $177 million for the renovation and retrofit of social housing. Under the terms of the agreement, the provincial and federal governments will provide matching contributions of $88.82 million. Overall, Canada’s Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for the construction of new and the repair of existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.
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. It provides $850 million under the Affordable Housing Initiative to provinces and territories for the renovation and retrofit of existing social housing, to improve the quality of existing social housing for low-income seniors, single-parent families, recent immigrants and Aboriginal households.
The Province of British Columbia’s $14-billion capital infrastructure program is creating up to 88,000 jobs, helping to build vital public infrastructure in every region of the province and stimulating local economies across B.C.
