The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, today announced that during the 2009-10 fiscal year, the Provincial Home Repair Program (PHRP) provided over $3.65 million in grants and repayable loans to assist low-income homeowners in the Avalon and Burin regions to renovate their homes.

The PHRP is a long-standing housing program that assists low-income homeowners to undertake much needed repairs to their homes and provides seniors and persons with disabilities funding to make accessibility retrofits. The Federal and Provincial governments are contributing to an overall investment of $24.2　million, over two years, under the amended CMHC — Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Renovation Program Agreement, with the Provincial Government contributing $16 million and the Federal Government, $8.2 million.

"Our government is investing in affordable housing in Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada for those who need it most," said Minister MacKay. "Many families will benefit from this funding in the Avalon and Burin regions, as the Government of Canada improves the housing conditions for low income families by providing needed renovations to their homes."

"For lower-income homeowners, who cannot afford the cost of essential repairs, the Provincial Home Repair Program provides an opportunity to undertake upgrades that immediately improve the quality of their homes and their lives," said Minister Hedderson. "For more than 30 years this program has also enabled countless seniors and persons with disabilities to remain in their own homes for longer periods, thus providing a cost-effective alternative to housing people in long-term and personal care facilities."

The types of repairs that can be untaken with a PHRP loan or grant include upgrades to heating, electrical or plumbing systems, and renovations and retrofits to deteriorated structures, foundations, windows, doors, roofing or siding. Applicants are addressed on a first-come, first-served basis; however, priority is given to emergency repairs and persons with disabilities. Applicants must be homeowners with annual incomes of $32,500 or less.

A total of 897 PHRP grants and repayable loans were approved in 2009-10 for applicants in the Avalon and Burin regions. Throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, a total of 2,810 in grants and repayable loans were approved under PHRP in 2009-2010.

On average, PHRP applicants are approximately 61 years of age, live in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, have annual incomes of $16,000 - $17,000, and reside in homes that are approximately 40 years old.

A maximum grant of $5,000 is available to homeowners on the island, while homeowners in Labrador are eligible for a maximum grant of $6,500. Persons with accessibility needs on the island and in Labrador are eligible for a maximum grant of $7,500. Homeowners whose repairs exceed these levels may apply for a low-interest repayable loan of up to $10,000 [$13,000 in coastal Labrador]. In Newfoundland and Labrador approximately 2,000 applicants are served under PHRP each year.

In 2008, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over five years to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless. As part of this investment, the Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI) and renovation programs for low-income households were extended for two years. For Newfoundland and Labrador this represents $14 million in federal funding.

Canada's Economic Action Plan builds on this with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion to build new and renovate existing social housing for low-income Canadians, plus up to $2 billion in loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.

Renovation work completed under this program 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 .

More information on 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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