GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND SASKATCHEWAN CELEBRATE NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN PRINCE ALBERT

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan - Randy Hoback, Member of Parliament for Prince Albert, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with Delbert Kirsch, MLA for Batoche, on behalf of Social Services Minister and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation June Draude, and City of Prince Albert Mayor Jim Scarrow, today announced support for two local housing initiatives built for homeless adults coping with mental illness and low-income young adults.

The funding of $679,500 for one of the two projects, Canadian Mental Health Association - Prince Albert Branch Inc. (CMHA-PA), 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, Prince Albert Métis Women's Association (PAMWA), received $770,000 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, Canada's 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.

"Here in Prince Albert and throughout the country, Canada's Economic Action Plan is giving a hand-up to Canadians in need," said MP Hoback. "Our investment in these projects is helping to provide homeless adults coping with mental illness, low-income youth and young adults with safe affordable housing that meets their needs. For the people who will live here, these new units are more than just a roof over their heads - they are the key to a brighter future."

"Housing availability and affordability is a key priority of our government," Kirsch said. "This initiative is an excellent example of what can be achieved when governments and community partners work together to help improve the lives of Saskatchewan people who need a helping hand up, and to build stronger, sustainable communities."

"Affordable housing is a community matter and through this project we can respond to the needs of these at-risk individuals, by providing safe, secure and affordable housing," Mayor Scarrow said. "Together we will continue to build a greater city and province."

The CMHA-PA project consists of an eight-unit apartment building located at 74-18th Street West in Prince Albert, within walking distance of the downtown and other services. The total cost is over $1.1 million, of which $679,500 was funded by the federal and provincial governments, with a further $400,000 from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's Homelessness Partnering Strategy and $54,500 from the City of Prince Albert. The balance of the cost is covered by a mortgage.

The PAMWA project consists of a 10-unit transitional home for at-risk youth. The building is located at 807-7th Street East in Prince Albert, close to schools and services. The total cost is about $851,000, with $770,000 in federal and provincial funding and the balance coming from PAMWA.

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.

The Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) is a community-based program that provides funding to communities across Canada for projects that prevent and reduce homelessness. The HPS emphasizes longer-term supportive and transitional housing by focusing on a housing-first approach to help people make the transition out of the cycle of homelessness.

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
Ottawa
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