Dec 12 2012
The Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan, along with Silver Sage Holdings Ltd., celebrated the construction progress of a new affordable housing complex in the Coronation Park area of Regina today.
The new 12-unit housing complex, located close to services and other amenities, will be available to low-income families.
Tom Lukiwski, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for Regina-Lumsden-Lake Centre, 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 June Draude, Minister of Social Services and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, made the announcement today.
"Our Government is investing in affordable housing in Saskatchewan and across the country to help create jobs and improve the quality of life for people who need it most," said PS Lukiwski. "When complete, this new development will bring 12 more affordable rental housing units to Regina, a new place to call home for families in this community."
"Significant progress is being made to increase the housing supply to meet the needs of our growing province and economy," Minister Draude said. "When the public and private sectors act together, great things can be achieved. I am pleased that this family housing project is the result of such partnerships."
An investment of $2.1 million from the federal and provincial Investment in Affordable Housing 2011-2014 Agreement was provided through Saskatchewan Housing Corporation towards this project.
The complex will consist of two four-bedroom and 10 three-bedroom townhouse units for Regina families in need of affordable housing. The Government of Saskatchewan, through Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, continues to work with the for-profit and not-for profit sectors to develop new housing opportunities throughout the province. Since November 2007, 309 affordable rental units, and 42 units in pre-construction stages, have been added to the community of Regina, including this project.
"The development of new affordable housing units for off reserve First Nations families is critical and essential to the City of Regina," said Silver Sage Board Chair and File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council Chairperson Edmund Bellegarde. "The majority of our First Nations population lives off reserve and these new units will alleviate the need for affordable housing units for our people and other low-income citizens of Regina."
This funding comes as a result of the recently announced $55 million Investment in Affordable Housing 2011-2014 Agreement between the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan. Under the agreement, the Province of Saskatchewan will use the funds to create new and renovate existing affordable housing for households in need.
The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest approximately $2 billion in housing this year. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will be spent in support of almost 605,000 households living in existing social housing. In Saskatchewan, this represents some 29,900 households. These investments are improving the quality of life for low-income Canadians and households living in existing social housing, including individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal people.
The Government of Saskatchewan has committed $344 million to create more than 12,600 new housing units across the province by 2016.