Transportation and Works
July 16, 2010The following is being
distributed at the request of Newfoundland Labrador Housing:
PHRP Enables Homeowners in Labrador to
Upgrade Their Homes
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 $282,000 in grants and repayable loans to assist
low-income homeowners in the Labrador region 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.
"Repairing housing not only helps to build strong and
healthy communities but most importantly, it improves the quality of
life for residents of Newfoundland and Labrador and the rest of the
country," said Minister MacKay. "Our Government is committed to giving a
hand-up to those in need by providing safe, affordable housing that
meets their needs."
"Every year we receive very positive feedback from
homeowners throughout the province who benefit from the Provincial Home
Repair Program," said Minister Hedderson. "This program is an important
part of the Williams Government's long-term social plan to eliminate
poverty in our province. Having a safe and quality home in which to
live, and raise your family, is a significant tool in our fight to
eliminate poverty."
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 "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 67 PHRP grants and repayable loans were
approved in 2009-2010 for applicants in the Labrador regional area.
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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