The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation:

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
Recognizes National Housing Day

I rise to share with Honourable Members on this 22nd day of November, National Housing Day, how Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation’s (NLHC) accomplishments in 2012 continue to address the goals of the Provincial Social Housing Plan - Secure Foundations.

Mr. Speaker, NLHC has done magnificent work this past number of years. Our rental housing wait list is down 25 per cent over the past two years and the Provincial Government has increased and expanded program funding with the aim of making further gains in addressing social housing supply and demand.

We have completed the modernization of approximately 70 per cent of our 5,570 NLHC rental units, up from 30 per cent just five years ago.

We have tripled annual renovation and modernization funding for our housing units from $4 million to $12 million.

There has been a 25 per cent drop in maintenance calls over the past three years which is certainly indicative of the amount of work completed by NLHC’s skilled workers.

We have quadrupled the Supportive Living Program funding, which creates housing supports for persons with complex needs, from $1.2 million to $4.8 million.

We have doubled the Rent Supplement Program funding from $4 million to $8 million, and currently have 1,732 subsidized rental units in the private market to assist people with low incomes.

We have also doubled the Provincial Home Repair Program funding from $4 million to $8 million for a total of $12 million annually in federal-provincial funding to help people with low incomes make modifications and improvements, enabling them to remain in their homes.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, we have introduced very successful new programs such as the Provincial Homelessness Fund, which helps non-profits expand to provide services to individuals at risk of homelessness.

The Residential Energy Efficiency Program provides $4 million annually for energy efficiency retrofits, and our Educational Incentive Program for tenant families is one program that has supported the increase in the number of youth staying in school from 48 per cent four years ago to around 75 per cent today.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador can proudly say we are providing Secure Foundations, and we are continuing to provide more housing solutions for individuals and families in greatest need throughout our province.

2012 11 22             1:50 p.m.