The governments of Canada and British Columbia, announced today $15.5 million for the construction of 322 modular housing units for seniors and persons with disabilities to be constructed by four B.C. modular housing manufacturers.
“The Harper Government is helping Canadian seniors and persons with disabilities during these tough economic times through Canada’s Economic Action Plan. Our government’s investment of $7.75 million will stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession,” said Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for Kamloops – Thompson – Caribou, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). “Here in B.C., this achievement gives hope to seniors and people with disabilities who need quality affordable housing that meets their needs, while creating local jobs.”
“While the primary focus of the Seniors’ Rental Housing initiative is to provide affordable housing in rural and remote communities, we’re also creating employment and stimulating local economies by awarding the modular housing contracts to local modular manufacturers,” said Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing and Social Development. “These modular housing units will use close to 100 per cent B.C. wood sourced from Pine Beetle infected forests. This supports the new Wood First Act, which aims to increase demand for wood products by requiring provincially-funded building projects to use wood as the primary construction material.”
Through an amendment to the Canada – British Columbia Affordable Housing Agreement, the federal and provincial governments are contributing a combined total of $15.5 million for the construction of the 322 modular housing units. As part of the Seniors’ Rental Housing (SRH) initiative, these modular units will be shipped to selected rural communities across the Province to provide affordable housing for independent seniors and persons with disabilities.
The successful proponents, selected by BC Housing through a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued in August 2009, were Britco Structures Inc., Chaparral Industries, Freeport Industries Ltd. and Northern Trailer, a division of Horizon North. These companies will construct single-storey modular units which will be designed to incorporate energy efficient features and built using B.C. forest products.
“Modular construction integrates building processes by enabling greater control, higher quality, shorter timelines and lower, more predictable costs” said Mark Brown, president of Northern Trailer. “We are looking forward to working with the federal and provincial governments to customize the designs of the modular units to provide the most appropriate homes for seniors and persons with disabilities.”
The SRH initiative is a 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. It provides $123.5 million, including $104 million for seniors and $19.5 million for persons with disabilities, to develop up to 1,000 new affordable rental housing units, which will help to stimulate local economies in smaller communities across B.C. Under the terms of the agreement, the provincial and federal governments will provide matching contributions of $61.79 million.
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 a total of $475 million, over two years, to build new rental housing, including $400 million for housing for low-income seniors and $75 million for housing for persons with disabilities. 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 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.
Posted by Moishe Alexander
People dealing with addictions, mental health and at risk of homelessness will have access to 92 units of supportive housing now open at the Lux in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, thanks to funding from federal, provincial and community partners.
“The Government of Canada is committed to making affordable housing available in British Columbia and across Canada for those who need it most,” said Andrew Saxton, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for North Vancouver, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). “These new units provide more options for individuals in need of suitable, supportive housing, and are important to the economic and social well-being of the Vancouver Community.”
The federal government, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), provided a $4.75 million grant and the project as a whole also received financing in the form of a $2.86 million CMHC insured mortgage. The Province provided $12.88 million towards the capital costs through the Provincial Homelessness Initiative and will provide an ongoing operational subsidy.
“Over 90 people who don’t have homes and want to make positive changes in their lives will now have greater access to supportive housing, helping them forge a path towards long-term health and independence,” said Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing and Social Development. “The opening of the Lux is part of our Government’s commitment to provide more supportive housing options to Downtown Eastside residents.”
The City of Vancouver provided the land, with a value of $885,000, as a no-charge 60-year lease and $1.05 million for the commercial units.
“The Lux demonstrates the positive outcomes from all levels of government uniting with community partners to help those most in need,” said Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson. “This is another step towards revitalizing the community in the Downtown Eastside and helping our city break the cycle of homelessness.”
Vancouver Coastal Health will provide annual operational funding to administer programs and support services to tenants, including life skills education and local health service guidance.
“Offering housing with a range of integrated supports gives people the resources they need to embark on a stable path, regaining control of their health and establishing greater self-reliance,” said Allyson Muir, Manager, Mental Health and Addictions Housing in Vancouver Community at Vancouver Coastal Health. “Partnerships between government and community are the cornerstones that help people most in need transition into a more independent living situation.”
RainCity Housing and Support Society manages and operates the Lux and provides innovative, outcome-oriented programs and services for people living with mental illness, addictions and other challenges.
“We believe in a home for every person and building upon the strengths of our community and each individual,” said RainCity Housing and Support Society representative. “Thanks to our great partnerships with all levels of government, we are able to further promote our mission and facilitate hope, opportunity and change for the most vulnerable people.”
The Province has committed to creating more than 4,000 new housing units under the Provincial Homelessness Initiative. For the 2009/10 fiscal year, the Province’s budget for shelters and affordable housing is over $469 million — more than four times what it was in 2001.
People struggling with homelessness will have access to 11 transitional housing units and 13 affordable apartments once construction is complete on the new $8.7-million Garfield Hotel in New Westminster.
“The Government of Canada is committed to making affordable housing available in British Columbia and across Canada for those who need it the most,” said the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).” These new units in New Westminster will provide people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with access to suitable, affordable housing that meets their specific needs.”
The Province is providing a subsidized mortgage of $7 million for the development. The funding will help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness move beyond temporary shelter to more secure housing, gain greater self-reliance, and achieve appropriate employment.
Construction began in July 2009 as part of a partnership between the federal and provincial governments and Lookout Emergency Aid Society. The Government of Canada provided a $1.65-million grant through the Affordable Housing Agreement.
“Our government is working with Lookout Emergency Aid Society to provide housing and support services so men and women can break away from substance abuse and homelessness,” said Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing and Social Development. “Garfield Hotel will help people recover and become independent by providing a supportive and stable environment.”
Lookout Emergency Aid Society will manage and operate the Garfield Hotel. Residents will receive life skill training programs on cooking and nutrition, budgeting, and basic hygiene, gaining the necessary skills to move towards living independently.
“We are very grateful for the federal and provincial funding that has been committed to this project so that we can provide the housing, support and services that are necessary to end homelessness,” said Karen O’Shannacery, executive director of Lookout Emergency Aid Society. “The Garfield Hotel will be a pathway to greater independence and a better life for many.”
Last fall, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over the next five years to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless. ‘Canada’s Economic Action Plan’ builds on this, with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing and lending of up to another $2 billion to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.
Increasing affordable housing and reducing homelessness is a key agenda for the Province of British Columbia. In 2009 – 10, the Province’s budget for affordable housing and shelters is $450 million, more than three times as much as in 2001.