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Creating Jobs and Improving Social Housing in Ontario

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.

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Social Housing in Sault Ste. Marie Being Renovated

Posted By Moishe Alexander

Its always great to see more money going to repair social housing units.

SAULT STE. MARIE, August 11, 2009 — The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario today announced that the Columbus Club of Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corporation will receive support for repairs and renovations over the next two years.

The work will include a roof replacement.

The Columbus Club of Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corporation will receive $54,000 — part of a notional allocation of more than $4.9 million to Sault Ste. Marie to repair and retrofit existing local social housing units.

The funding was made available as a result of a $1.2 billion joint investment under the amended Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement, which includes funding through Canada’s Economic Action Plan and by the Government of Ontario. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment.

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and David Orazietti, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Watson, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, made the announcement today.

“Renovation and retrofit projects, like this one, will improve the quality of life for residents by keeping their homes safe and affordable,” said Minister Finley. “It is also a good way to get the local economy moving because it puts construction workers and trades people to work quickly and most of the materials and supplies are made in Canada.”

“These repairs are another step towards improving social housing in Sault Ste. Marie,” said MPP Orazietti. “This new funding will help ensure that people living in social housing have a safe and reliable place to live. Ontarians deserve nothing less.”

Ontario is moving quickly to invest a total of $704 million to repair eligible social housing across the province. In an effort to get shovels in the ground quickly, projects must be committed by the end of the fiscal years 2010 and 2011.

The funding will help improve the quality of life for residents living in social housing communities. Funding will be used to renovate and make energy-saving upgrades to existing social housing as well as to undertake accessibility modifications for the benefit of seniors and persons with disabilities.  It will also create jobs and strengthen local economies. To find out more about affordable housing in Ontario, visit www.mah.gov.on.ca.

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.

Last month, the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario, announced a series of investments of more than $70 million to fund 36 construction-ready projects throughout the province under the amended Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement.