NLIS 51
March 27, 2003
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)

 

Investment in social housing continues

Government will maintain its strong support for social housing in the province in the 2003-04 fiscal year, Oliver Langdon, minister responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC), announced today. The new budget will provide for approximately $93 million to be spent through NLHC to sustain its various social housing initiatives throughout the province. The federal government, under the 1998 Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador Social Housing Agreement, will contribute $54.8 million in block funding to support these programs.

NLHC owns and operates approximately 6,000 non-profit social housing units around the province and provides affordable housing for approximately 18,000 people. Low-income families and individuals, including seniors, avail of affordable housing which otherwise would not be available in the private market. Normally, the monthly rates do not exceed 25 to 30 per cent of monthly income. NLHC also provides assistance to some 5,100 community-based non-profit housing units throughout the province.

"In the 2003-04 fiscal year, NLHC will also co-ordinate the delivery of the Provincial Home Repair Program to assist low-income homeowners maintain their homes," said the minister. "Approximately $11.5 million will be spent in mainly rural communities on this worthwhile initiative." It is anticipated that approximately 2,000 home-owners will be assisted by this program in 2003-04. The program is cost-shared with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Minister Langdon also noted that the province will be entering into a cost-shared Affordable Housing Agreement with the federal government through CMHC early in the 2003-04 fiscal year. "This initiative will make a solid contribution to meeting specific housing needs, including independent living housing for seniors, supportive housing for the mentally and physically challenged, specific housing needs in Labrador, and affordable rental housing for lower income earners," said the minister. It is anticipated that upwards of $4 million will be committed in the 2003-04 fiscal year under this new program.

Media contact:
          Jenny Bowring, NLHC Communications, (709) 724-3055
          Lynn Hammond, MPA Communications, (709) 729-1983

2003 03 27                                        4:30 p.m.


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