FORUM FOCUSES ON NON-PROFIT HOUSING IN SASKATCHEWAN

The spotlight is on the non-profit housing sector’s role in helping meet the growing demand for housing in Saskatchewan at a two-day forum in Saskatoon.  The event, hosted by the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) today and tomorrow at the Radisson Hotel, brings together delegates from more than 100 non-profit housing agencies across the province.

“This forum is the first of its kind in Saskatchewan,” Social Services Minister and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation June Draude said.  “We felt it was important to hold an event that enabled us to focus on the specific and unique challenges facing the non-profit housing sector.”

Presenters at the forum will discuss networking opportunities between housing and service agencies in the province, provide ideas on how non-profit agencies can develop housing projects on their own, and will help prepare non-profit housing providers for self-sufficiency after mortgages are retired.

“We are committed to working with – and learning from – our partners in the for-profit and non-profit housing industries,” Draude said.  “Events like this forum play an important role in the process by allowing participants to share their experience, their knowledge and their ideas for meeting the housing challenges associated with a growing province.  In turn, that helps our government meet our commitment to ensuring access to safe and affordable housing, as expressed in the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth.”

A commitment was made by SHC at the 2012 provincial Housing Summit to host a non-profit housing forum to enable housing agencies to discuss mutual challenges and ideas for better serving their clients.  Currently, non-profit housing providers own and operate approximately 6,500 housing units in the province, accounting for 27 per cent of government-funded housing in Saskatchewan.

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For more information, contact:

Pete Paczko
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0531
Email: pete.paczko@gov.sk.ca