GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND SASKATCHEWAN CELEBRATE NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SASKATOON

Kelly Block, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, on behalf of Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with Saskatoon Sutherland MLA Joceline Schriemer on behalf of Social Services Minister and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation Donna Harpauer, and City of Saskatoon Mayor Donald Atchison, today announced support for two local housing initiatives built for low-income families and persons with disabilities.

Funding in the amount of just over $600,000 for the DH2 Construction project has been made available for the initiative through Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government's plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession. The second project, Bedford Road, received $1.8 million through the Affordable Housing Initiative. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment of $148 million under the amended Canada-Saskatchewan Affordable Housing Program Agreement.

Persons with disabilities often have difficulty finding housing that meets their specific needs. Canada's Economic Action Plan provides $75 million over two years to build new rental 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.

"Our government is proud to be investing in these new apartments for families in Saskatoon through the extension of the Affordable Housing Initiative and Canada's Economic Action Plan," said Block. "All Canadians deserve access to safe, affordable housing, and these new projects will make that vision a reality for more residents in our community."

"Our government and partners are hard at work to help address the challenges of housing availability and affordability for individuals and families in Saskatchewan," Schriemer said. "This investment, and others like it, means that we are building safe, quality, affordable homes for the future, as well as providing housing options today."

"The City of Saskatoon is a significant contributor to affordable housing in Saskatoon," Atchison said. "Through our nationally recognized Affordable Housing Business Plan, the city is able to provide direct financial contributions to these important affordable housing projects. All citizens of this wonderful city are entitled to opportunities for a safe, healthy and happy life. And it all starts with a place to call home."

The DH2 project consists of two three-bedroom semi-detached homes, for a total of four units. Each unit is wheelchair-accessible and features wider doorways, ramps, wheel-in showers and lower counter and light-switch heights. The estimated total cost is $1.1 million, of which more than $600,000 was funded by the federal and provincial governments, with a further $72,800 from the City of Saskatoon. A private incorporation known as DH2 Construction provided the remaining funding in land and financing for the construction of the project.

The Bedford Road project consists of two three-bedroom four-plexes, for a total of eight units. The estimated total cost is about $1.9 million, with $1.8 million in federal and provincial funding and the balance coming from the City of Saskatoon.

Canada's Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada's commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless.

The amendment to the Canada-Saskatchewan Affordable Housing Program Agreement, which included funding under Canada's Economic Action Plan, signed in May 2009, brought federal housing support of $74 million to the province. The Government of Saskatchewan will match that commitment for a total of $148 million to assist those in housing need and, in collaboration with other levels of government and community partners, to make various types of affordable housing programs possible. In Saskatchewan, federal-provincial housing programs are delivered through the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation.

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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For more information, contact:

Michelle Bakos
Office of Minister Finley
Phone: 819-994-2482

Kimberlee Jones
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Calgary
Phone: 403-515-3048

Linda Saliken
Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0246