HOUSING RENOVATIONS BENEFIT PRINCE ALBERT FAMILIES

Families are enjoying an enhanced quality of life, following a $1.2 million renovation of Manville Bay, a project that consists of 30 three-bedroom units in five townhouse-style buildings, located in the West Flat neighbourhood of Prince Albert.

"Our government is proud to have contributed to this project in West Flat," said Randy Hoback, Member of Parliament for Prince Albert, on behalf of Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). "These renovated apartments will benefit the economic well-being of Prince Albert, while providing quality, affordable housing for those who need it most."

"Repairing rental properties not only helps to build strong, healthy neighbourhoods but, most importantly, improves the quality of life for tenants in need of stable, quality, affordable housing," Municipal Affairs Minister Darryl Hickie said on behalf of Social Services Minister and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation June Draude. "Housing availability and affordability is a key priority of our government, and the Manville Bay project is an excellent example of this commitment."

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 $480,000 for the project ($360,000 provided by the federal government and $120,000 from the province). In addition to this funding, the province provided a grant of $105,000 through the Saskatchewan Home Energy Improvement Program. The property owners, All Nations River of Life Centre Corporation, a non-profit organization, provided $610,700 for the project.

Rental RRAP offers financial assistance to rental property owners who provide affordable accommodation to low-income tenants and whose properties need major repairs. From April 1, 2007 to date, Rental RRAP has provided assistance in the amount of $5.4 million to rehabilitate 363 units throughout Saskatchewan. Total project costs have exceeded $8.7 million. The federal government has provided $4.1 million and the province has provided $1.3 million in funding. Since 2009, the RRAP program has provided total assistance of $6.8 million annually to repair an average of 500 units per year.

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, and the Canada-Saskatchewan Housing Renovation 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 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
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0246