Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
January 2, 2015
The following is being distributed at the request of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation:
Investing in Affordable Housing Builds Better Communities
NL Housing Makes Significant Progress in Social Housing in 2014
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) made significant progress this year in providing affordable housing options to families, seniors, single adults, persons with disabilities and persons with complex needs - with 1,000 low-income homeowners provided assistance in upgrading their homes, 240 homeowners provided funds to make accessibility modifications, and 900 households availing of the opportunity to make cost-saving retrofits to their homes. NLHC also successfully negotiated a new, unprecedented $68 million federal-provincial affordable housing agreement.
"Looking back on 2014, I recognize the achievements that Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has made in providing viable housing options for people with a variety of housing needs throughout the province. I believe that we have raised the bar and set the stage for even more success in 2015."
- The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
NLHC's 2014 highlights include:
- Signing a five-year $68-million federal-provincial Investment in Affordable Housing agreement, which will provide $27 million to help private and non-profit sector partners build 590 new affordable units throughout the province, bringing the total to 1,700 units by the end of 2019.
- The remaining $41 million from the cost-shared agreement will be invested in the Provincial Home Repair Program to help another 10,000 low-income households make repairs and renovations to their homes over the next five years. So far this fiscal year, over 1,000 homeowners have received about $4 million to upgrade their homes.
- The Home Modification Program has assisted 240 homeowners with $1.5 million throughout the province so far this fiscal year. The program assists low-to-moderate incomes households make accessibility modifications to their homes.
- The Residential Energy Efficiency Program has enabled another 900 low-income households around the province to avail of $2.7 million in grants to make cost-saving energy retrofits to their homes so far this year.
- Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has invested $10 million in renovations and completed modernization and improvements on about 450 rental units province-wide. Close to 77 per cent of the corporation's 5,584 rental units have now received exterior renovations.
- An additional $1 million in 2014 increased the Rent Supplement Program budget to $9.4 million and provided 150 more rent supplement units for a total 1,882, throughout the province.
- To date, in fiscal 2014-15, the Provincial Homelessness Fund has provided capital investments totalling $678,000 to enable nine non-profit groups throughout the province to improve services for those at risk of homelessness.
- During this year, the Supportive Living Program has provided $4.6 million in grants to 26 non-profit community-based projects that helped individuals with complex needs find housing and maintain long-term housing stability.
- Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has made a $2 million investment toward the construction of a 10-unit apartment building for single-parent families in Labrador City. Anticipated to be completed early in 2015, the building will also provide a community space with offices for a housing support worker and other professionals in the fields of nursing, social work and mental health.
QUICK FACTS
- Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) is providing affordable social housing options to families, seniors, and single adults with low incomes, as well as persons with disabilities and persons with complex needs, throughout the province.
- Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation is the province's largest landlord, with 5,584 affordable rental units province-wide.
- Over the next five years the new $68-million federal/provincial Investment in Affordable Housing agreement will create nearly 590 new affordable housing units, and assist 10,000 low-income households with housing renovations.
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Media contacts:
|
Heather May
Director of Communications Department of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development 709-729-0928, 697-5061 heathermay@gov.nl.ca |
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation 709-724-3055 jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca |
2015 01 02 10:35 a.m.