Transportation and Works
May 14, 2010
The following is being distributed at
the request of Newfoundland Labrador Housing:
$1.7 Million for Social
Housing Renovations and Retrofits in Labrador
The Governments of Canada and
Newfoundland and Labrador today announced that $1.7 million in
renovation and retrofit work on 125 Newfoundland Labrador Housing units,
including co-operative and non-profit housing properties in the Labrador
region, is making a significant difference to these homes.
The funding was made available through
Canada's Economic Action Plan, which is a federal plan to stimulate the
economy and create jobs during the global recession. Overall, the
Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for new and existing social
housing, plus up to $2 billion in loans to municipalities for
housing-related infrastructure. The federal and provincial governments
are contributing equally to this overall investment of $58 million under
the amended Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Affordable Housing Program
Agreement.
The Government of Canada wants to improve
the quality of existing social housing for low-income seniors,
single-parent families, recent immigrants and Aboriginal households.
Canada's Economic Action Plan provides $850 million under the Affordable
Housing Initiative to provinces and territories for the renovation and
retrofit of existing social housing.
The funding is being used for items such
as the replacement of roofing, siding, windows and doors, and a complete
retrofit of the interiors, which can include the replacement of
flooring, drywall, doors, kitchen and bathroom cupboards, flooring,
counters and fixtures such as tubs, sinks and showers. The investment
will significantly extend the life of these structures for future use.
As part of Budget 2010: The Right
Investments — For Our Children and Our Future, the Provincial
Government is investing $27million for housing infrastructure projects,
affordable housing and increased maintenance funding over the coming
fiscal year. This renovation and retrofit work is also in keeping with
the goals of the Provincial Government's 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. A copy of the social housing plan is available at
www.nlhc.nl.ca/SocialHsingPlan/report.pdf.
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of
National Defence, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible
for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC); and the Honourable
Tom Hedderson, Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister
Responsible for Newfoundland Labrador Housing, made the announcement
today.
"Through our ongoing Economic Action
Plan, our government remains committed to giving a hand-up to those who
need it most here in Newfoundland and Labrador. That's why we're proud
to be investing in the renovation and retrofit of these 125 units," said
Minister MacKay. "These projects are a good way to get the local economy
moving, because they put construction workers and tradespeople to work
quickly, while also providing safe, affordable homes for years to come."
"This renovation and retrofit work moves
Newfoundland Labrador Housing and the Provincial Government one step
closer to fulfilling our goal of revitalizing the province's entire
social housing portfolio," said Minister Hedderson. "Our government
understands how important adequate housing is to the physical and
emotional health, and productivity of families, individuals, seniors and
persons with disabilities as well as to their communities."
Canada's Economic Action Plan builds on
the Government of Canada's commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion,
over the next five years, to improve and build new affordable housing
and help the homeless.
More information on this and other
measures in Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Federal Government's plan
to stimulate the economy and protect those hit hardest by the global
recession, can be found at:
www.actionplan.gc.ca.
To find out more about how the Government
of Canada and CMHC are working to build stronger homes and communities
for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit
www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan.
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Media contacts:
BACKGROUNDER
Newfoundland and Labrador — Renovation and Retrofit Projects
Labrador Region
CBH = Community Based Housing
NLH = NL Housing (Public)
Project Name |
Community |
Units |
Total Funding |
Eagle
River Community Housing — CBH |
Cartwright |
16 |
$250,000 |
Perrault
Place - NLH |
Happy Valley-Goose
Bay |
22 |
$318,109 |
Cavendish Crescent — NLH |
Labrador City |
21 |
$574,849 |
Cartwright - NLH |
Cartwright |
2 |
$80,000 |
White
Crescent — NLH |
Happy Valley-Goose
Bay |
4 |
$160,000 |
Cavendish Street. — NLH |
Labrador City |
58 |
$269,620 |
Total |
|
125 |
$1,652,578 |
2010 05 14
11:10 a.m.
|