March 22, 2000
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)
Social housing spending
Joan Marie Aylward, Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador
Housing Corporation (NLHC), announced today that government will continue its
support for social housing in the province. In 2000/01 NLHC will spend $89.4
million on new program activity and operation of the existing portfolio of
social housing in the province. These programs are cost-shared
federally/provincially and will serve more than 36,000 people throughout the
province.
During the coming year, NLHC will spend $79.2 million to help individuals and
families access adequate, suitable and affordable housing. NLHC owns and
operates approximately 7,000 non-profit social housing units throughout the
province, providing affordable rental housing to about 18,000 people. The
minister noted that these people pay rent based on their income. In addition,
NLHC will provide assistance to non-profit community groups to assist another
4,200 households and house more than 8,300 people.
"In addition to providing social housing subsidies, NLHC will spend
$10.2 million this year to address the needs of low-income homeowners who need
critical repairs to their homes or adaptations to permit accessibility and to
alleviate difficulties in daily living," said the minister. Under the
Provincial Home Repair Program, NLHC will continue to address the needs of those
already on the waiting list, while offering assistance to those households with
critical repair needs. NLHC expects to serve approximately 3,100 households,
accommodating another 8,000 people. The minister said that of the total funding,
$7.9 million will be allocated in the form of grants while the remaining $2.3
million will be available for repayable loans.
NLHC will also be working with the communities, housing committees, and other
agencies to deliver additional housing and renovation funding to the communities
of Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik, Rigolet and Postville, as part of government�s
Northern Coastal Labrador Strategic Initiative. Over the next three years, this
initiative will see $7.7 million invested in housing above and beyond the social
housing programs noted above.
Media contact: Glenn Bruce, Communications, (709) 729-1983.
2000 03 22
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