GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO TASK FORCE ON HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

The Province is acting quickly to implement immediate-priority recommendations made by the Task Force on Housing Affordability to help those most affected by escalating housing costs in Saskatchewan.

"Through the Task Force's consultations and contacts to our offices, we have clearly heard that some lower-income citizens of our province need immediate assistance to meet the rising cost of affordable housing," Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer said. "We are addressing this issue by implementing some immediate relief while we develop further medium and long-term responses to the housing challenges in the province."

Effective August 1, 2008, shelter rates for low-income renters will be increased in the Saskatchewan Assistance Program (SAP), Transitional Employment Allowance (TEA) and Saskatchewan Rental Housing Supplement (SRHS). In total, the enhancements will immediately benefit approximately 6,500 households at an annual cost of $11.3 million.

A Saskatoon family with one or two children receiving benefits under SAP, TEA and the SHRS will see an increase of up to $189 per month (from $604 to $793). A single person with a disability will see a monthly increase of up to $126 (from $528 to $654).

"By increasing the Provincial Training Allowance (PTA) by $1.4 million, our government will help about 5,000 Saskatchewan students and changes to the student loan program will benefit an additional 10,000 students," Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris said. "Our goal is to help thousands of students focus on their programs and allow them to achieve their personal goals, help their families and meet the increasing labour market needs of the province."

New changes to address housing affordability include:

• Shelter rate increases for clients on SAP and TEA, of between $32 and $119 per month.
• Expanding the Saskatoon and Regina boundaries to include the Statistics Canada Metropolitan areas.
• Increasing the PTA living allowance and the shelter amounts in the Canada Saskatchewan integrated student loan program.
• Increasing the SRHS between $36 and $136 per month, depending on location and family size. This program is for qualifying families with children and people with disabilities and is also available to low income working families.
• Twice a year, the above mentioned programs will see automatic rate adjustments consistent with average market rental rates as provided by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
• Increasing the income thresholds by up to 19 per cent, depending on region and housing type, for seniors who rely on social housing programs.
• Increasing per diem rates paid to Community Based Organizations operating emergency shelters. The new rates will be consistent across the province at $45 per night for individuals (up from $25 - $40) and $60 per night for families (up from $50).
• Introducing changes to the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation Act to expand the board governance.

"Our government is working to ensure that all Saskatchewan residents benefit from the economic prosperity we are experiencing," Harpauer said. "These changes are an immediate response based on the recommendations contained within the report from the task force. Our government will be working to implement more innovative solutions in the weeks and months ahead.

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For more information, contact:

Neal Pobran
Saskatoon Cabinet Office
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-933-8297