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Newly Renovated Social Housing Opens in New Westminster

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.

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Moishe Alexander Reviews Construction of Five New Second-Stage Housing Units

The Government of Canada and People in Transition (Alliston) Inc. held a ground-breaking ceremony today to celebrate the construction of five new second-stage housing units at “My Sister’s Place”, a shelter for women and children who are victims of family violence in Simcoe County.

The Honourable Helena Guergis, Minister of State (Status of Women) and Member of Parliament for Simcoe – Grey, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; Anne Skeates, Board Chairperson, People in Transition (Alliston) Inc., along with guests attended today’s ceremony.

“The Government of Canada is committed to making affordable housing available in Ontario and across Canada for those who need it most,” said Minister of State Guergis. “Through this investment, My Sister’s Place will provide safe and supportive housing to women and their children who are experiencing family violence.”

Through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the Government of Canada provided $520,000 to My Sister’s Place through the Shelter Enhancement Program (SEP) and SEED funding. The SEP program assists in repairing, rehabilitating and improving existing shelters for women and their children or youth who are victims of family violence. It also provides financial assistance for the acquisition or construction of new shelters and second-stage housing where needed. SEED funding offers financial assistance to housing proponents who are in the early stages of developing an affordable housing project.

The five units — one bachelorette and four one-bedroom apartments, will be built beside the existing emergency shelter in Alliston. Women and children currently staying at My Sister’s Place could move into this second-stage housing as part of their transition from the shelter. Second-stage housing is vital in helping women and children reclaim their lives and secure a brighter future.

“My Sister’s Place is very proud to be creating a second-stage housing project that is the only purpose-built building of its kind in South Simcoe County,” said Anne Skeates, Board Chairperson, People in Transition (Alliston) Inc. “The goal of this project is to provide ongoing and on site shelter for women who are recreating their lives in the wake of an abusive relationship.”

My Sister’s Place, operated by People in Transition (Alliston) Inc., provides emergency shelter services to abused women and their children who are fleeing violent and / or abusive relationships. More than 1,000 women and children are served annually.

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.