The following is being distributed at the request of Newfoundland Labrador Housing:

Hoyles Avenue Housing Units to be Renovated

An $888,000 contract has been awarded to completely retrofit an eight-unit Newfoundland Labrador Housing (Housing) building on Hoyles Avenue in St. John�s. The Honourable Tom Marshall, acting Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for Housing, and Bob Ridgley, MHA for St. John�s North, made the announcement today.

�This is a very significant investment and a necessary one that is in line with the Williams Government�s long-term vision for social housing,� said Minister Marshall. �This particular building is part of our aging housing portfolio that requires appropriate work to continue to meet the needs of low-income families and individuals.�

The contract was awarded to Kelloway Construction. The work will include the replacement of roofing, siding, windows and doors, and a complete retrofit of the interior, including the replacement of flooring, drywall, doors, kitchens and bathrooms. The anticipated completion date for this project is June 2010.

�There�s been quite a lot of construction on the social housing portfolio in my district this past year,� said Mr. Ridgley. �It�s good to see this progressive move to modernize and to address the housing needs in our community.�

Recently, the federal and provincial governments announced a joint investment of $93 million to build new and renovate existing affordable housing throughout the province over the next two years. Overall, the provincial contribution is $50 million, with the Federal Government contributing a further $43 million.

These current upgrades and repairs are part of Housing�s annual Modernization and Improvement program. As part of Budget 2009: Building on Our Strong Foundation, the Provincial Government will invest $14.55 million for building, renovating and retro-fitting social housing infrastructure throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

This work is in keeping with the goals of the recently released Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador � Secure Foundations, which outlines a new long-term vision for social housing aimed at improving the housing circumstances of lower-income households and helping to create healthier communities.

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2009 11 13                                                  12:00 noon