Dec 6 2010
The Governments of Canada and Manitoba, and the City of Winnipeg today announced $10.7 million in funding for Place La Charette, a new affordable housing project to be managed by Ten Ten Sinclair Housing Inc.
The thirty-seven new units will enhance housing quality and accessibility for families and people with disabilities in Winnipeg.
The announcement was made by the Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Democratic Reform), on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the Honourable Kerri Irvin-Ross, Minister of Housing and Community Development, and Councillor Mike Pagtakhan, on behalf of Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz.
"The Government of Canada is committed to making affordable housing available in Manitoba and across Canada for those who need it most," said Minister Fletcher. "The construction of Place La Charette means that more individuals and families will have access to barrier-free, affordable housing here in Winnipeg."
"Ten Ten Sinclair has been the driving force in the development of community housing for physically disabled Manitobans for decades," said Minister Irvin-Ross. "Our goal as government is to help people with disabilities participate fully in society. Through initiatives like this and other the new visitable housing developments, we are opening doors, providing a range of housing options for all families in Manitoba."
"Being able to provide housing that is not only affordable, but tailored structurally for people living with a disability is something we at the City are very proud to be a part of," said Councillor Pagtakhan. "Having a safe and secure place to call home with the amenities to make daily living enjoyable is something the tenants of this facility will be able to experience for years to come."
Place La Charette will be a combination of a 31-unit, three-storey apartment complex and six bungalow houses, for a total of 37 units for low-income families and people with disabilities in the neighbourhood of St. Norbert. The project is modeled after the recently completed Place Betrand in St-Boniface and will incorporate fully accessible design features into all of the units as well as geothermal heating.
The funding was made available through Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government's plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession, and through the extension of the Affordable Housing Initiative. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to an overall investment of $176 million under the amended Canada-Manitoba Affordable Housing Initiative Agreement.
Persons with disabilities often have difficulty finding housing that meets their specific needs. Canada's Economic Action Plan provides $75 million over two years to build new rental housing for persons with disabilities. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for the construction of new and the renovation of existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in low-cost loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.
Through Manitoba's Long-Term Housing Strategy, HOMEWorks!, the Province of Manitoba, with the financial assistance of the Government of Canada is contributing $378 million over two years for housing initiatives in Winnipeg and across the province. HOMEWorks! supports ALLAboard, Manitoba's Poverty Reduction strategy by increasing the supply of quality, affordable housing for low-income Manitobans.
Source: http://www.whhi.ca