Provincial Home Repair Program

Oliver Langdon, minister responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation

(NLHC), today announced that $10.9 million will be made available again this year under the Provincial Home Repair Program. This program will address the needs of low income home owners who require critical repairs to their homes or adaptations to permit accessibility and to alleviate difficulties in daily living.

"This year�s funding will allow NLHC to deliver another 3,000 housing repair and assistance loans for an overall value of $10.9 million," Mr. Langdon said. "This program has been instrumental in assisting low-income households with critical home repair needs, and will improve living conditions for some 8,000 people throughout Newfoundland and Labrador."

An estimated $7.9 million will be provided in the form of grants and the remaining $3 million will be made available for repayable loans. "The continuation of this housing repair program is great news for many homeowners across the province," Mr. Langdon added. "It will also help to stimulate the home building industry throughout the province and generate over 250 person years of employment.

"NLHC has been delivering this program for three years now and it has been very popular among low income home owners requiring assistance. The extension of the program will let the NLHC continue to address the needs of those already on the waiting list, while also offering assistance to those households with critical repair needs."

Funding for the Provincial Home Repair Program is in addition to the continued funding provided for home construction and renovation under government�s ongoing three-year Northern Coastal Labrador Strategic Initiative. The Provincial Home Repair Program is a federal/provincial cost-shared initiative.

Media contact: Sean Kelly, Communications, (709) 729-1983.

2001 03 22                4:30 p.m.