CANADA AND SASKATCHEWAN OFFICIALLY OPEN NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SASKATOON

The Government of Canada, the Province of Saskatchewan and the City of Saskatoon, along with project partner Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. (CUMFI) today officially opened 11 new units of affordable rental housing for families in Saskatoon.

The announcement was made by Kelly Block, Member of Parliament for Sasktoon-Rosetown-Biggar, on behalf of Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development (HRSDC) and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Social Services Minister and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation June Draude.

"Our government is proud to play a role in project partnerships like this one, helping people in need of a hand-up," said Block. "These new apartments are making safe, affordable housing a reality for more families in Saskatoon."

"Saskatchewan is travelling down a new road, one that is marked by strong and continued growth," Draude said. "Today's announcement recognizes that economic growth needs to be accompanied by innovative partnerships and smart investments in areas like affordable housing. I want to thank CUMFI for all their hard work and dedication to providing help for struggling families needing to stay together."

"The City of Saskatoon is proud to partner with CUMFI and other levels of government in this project by contributing ten percent of the total cost," Saskatoon Mayor Donald Atchison said. "We know there are many low income families in our city in need of suitable housing. Since the adoption of the City's first comprehensive Housing Business Plan in 2008, the City of Saskatoon has invested more than $10 million for the creation of 1,372 new affordable and rental housing units."

The total cost of the 11-unit apartment building was approximately $1.9 million, with contributions from all three levels of government. The federal and provincial governments contributed equally to an investment of $1.5 million under the Affordable Housing Initiative, with additional federal funding from HRSDC's Homelessness Partnering Strategy ($133,000) and from the Off-Reserve Aboriginal Housing Trust ($89,000). Municipal support of more than $177,000 was provided by the City of Saskatoon.

The units will expand upon the Ministry of Social Services' Saskatoon-based Coming Home initiative, which enables families to live together with supports from the community and staff. The property is located at 116 Avenue P South, in the heart of the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood of Saskatoon.

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 for the construction of new and the renovation of existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in low-cost loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.

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 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. For more information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, call 1-800-O Canada or visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

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For more information, contact:

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

Megan Markin
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Calgary
Phone: 403-515-2962

Linda Saliken
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0246

Alan Wallace
City of Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-975-2650