Human Resources, Labour and Employment
January 21, 2011
 
The following is being distributed at the request of Newfoundland Labrador Housing:

New Affordable Homes to Meet Needs of Four St. John’s Families

Four St. John’s families recently moved into newly designed accessible and affordable homes built by Newfoundland Labrador Housing. These homes are part of an ongoing long-term redevelopment of the Cashin Avenue-Froude Avenue neighbourhood, which has some of the oldest social housing in Canada. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.
 
“These new homes are a strategic and welcome addition to the neighbourhood that will provide both accessibility and affordability,” said Minister King. “Newfoundland Labrador Housing is committed to developing more accessible affordable housing of this kind, to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families.”
 
The four two-bedroom units on Vickers Avenue were constructed with a $790,000 investment provided under the affordable Housing Trust Funds. Two of the units are fully accessible and two are semi-accessible which makes them visitor-friendly for people who require accessibility. All four houses have widened doors, hallways and living spaces. In addition, the fully accessible units are equipped with lowered kitchen cabinets and stove-tops, accessible appliances, bathrooms with roll-in showers, and lowered switches and thermostats. All of these features provide individuals who use wheelchairs more control of their living environment. The contract for the work was recently completed by G.S. Hunt.
 
“I can tell you first-hand what a difference the renovations and retrofits, and now the addition of these four new homes on Vickers Avenue have made to this community and to this community’s spirit,” said the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Natural Resources and MHA for St. John’s Centre. “This work complements the buildings that were retrofitted on Vimy Avenue and Froude Avenue, as well as the painting of all units in the area and the renovations that are in store for Froude Avenue Community Centre. Across the street on Cashin Avenue, we also have Marguerite’s Place, another affordable housing project currently under construction that will also incorporate accessibility features. Marguerite’s Place is a new women’s centre that will help transform the neighbourhood and provide services to women from all over the city.”
 
“We only moved in a few weeks ago, just before Christmas – and what a gift it has been,” said tenant Melissa Young. “The quality of our life has improved substantially, beyond where I ever thought it could be, and I’m so grateful to Newfoundland Labrador Housing for making this possible.”
One of the objectives of the Provincial Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador: Secure Foundations, released in August 2009, is to increase the supply of accessible and affordable housing, this project brings us closer to that goal.

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2011 01 21                                                         12:25 p.m.