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.
- 30 -
Media contacts:
Bradley Power Director of Communications Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment 709-729-0753, 699-5707 bradleypower@gov.nl.ca |
Jenny Bowring Manager, Communications Newfoundland Labrador Housing 709-724-3055 jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca |
Denise Payne Executive Assistant to the Honourable Shawn Skinner, MHA for St. John’s Centre 709-729-4746 dpayne@gov.nl.ca |
2011 01 21 12:25 p.m.