HOUSING RENOVATIONS BENEFIT SASKATOON FAMILIES

Residents of William Manor in Saskatoon are enjoying an enhanced quality of life, following a $545,000 renovation of the building.

"The Government of Canada is proud to have contributed more than $250,000 in funding for this project," said Kelly Block, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, on behalf of Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). "These renovated apartments will provide quality, affordable housing for the residents of William Manor and benefit the economic and social well-being of the Saskatoon community."

"Repairing rental properties not only helps to build strong, healthy neighbourhoods but, most importantly, improves the quality of life for tenants," Social Services Minister and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation Donna Harpauer said. "Our government is committed to improving housing in this province, and making life better for Saskatchewan people."

Funding was provided by the Rental Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (Rental RRAP), which is cost-shared by the federal and provincial governments. Rental RRAP provided approximately $337,000 for the project (approximately $253,000 from the federal government, with about $84,000 from the province). An additional $16,000 in funding was provided by the provincial Saskatchewan Home Energy Improvement Program (SHEIP). The funding balance was provided by Enterprises Gravelbourg Ltd.

Rental RRAP offers financial assistance to rental property owners to pay for mandatory repairs to self-contained units occupied by low-income tenants.

The renovations which were completed by Enterprises Gravelbourg Ltd, included heating, structural and fire safety improvements, as well as the installation of a high-efficiency boiler.

Located at 2024-22nd Street West, William Manor is a 24-unit apartment building consisting of 13 one-bedroom and 11 two-bedroom suites.

In 2008, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over 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, plus up to $2 billion in loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.

In Saskatchewan, the amendment to the Canada-Saskatchewan Affordable Housing Program Agreement, signed in May 2009, brought federal housing support of $84 million, while the province is contributing a further $77 million for the combined investment of more than $161 million.

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:

Kimberlee Jones
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Calgary
Phone: 403-515-3048
Email: kjones@cmhc.ca

Linda Saliken
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0246
Email: linda.saliken@gov.sk.ca

Michelle Bakos
Office of Minister Finley
Phone: 819-994-2482
Email: michelle.bakos@hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca