EDMONTON, Alberta, November 21, 2003 - The Capital Region Housing Corporation (CRHC) will receive $3.4 million under the Canada-Alberta Affordable Housing Program Agreement to build a 62-unit apartment complex and a 34-unit rooming house for low-income working singles and individuals on fixed incomes. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Steven Mahoney, Secretary of State responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Honourable Stan Woloshyn, Minister of Seniors with responsibility for housing.
"The Government of Canada has made the development of new affordable housing a priority," said Secretary of State Mahoney. "This partnership with the Province and the Capital Region Housing Corporation will help us build stronger communities and improve the housing conditions of low-income residents of Edmonton."
"These two projects are very significant for the City of Edmonton in that they will reduce waiting lists for community housing and they will allow suitable individuals to move out of homeless shelters and into new affordable rental units," said the Honourable Stan Woloshyn, Minister of Seniors with responsibility for housing. "In this way, we not only improve the quality of life for these individuals, but we are also helping to transition people out of homeless shelters."
The 62-unit apartment calls for 60 bed-sitting units with limited kitchen facilities and two studio units with full facilities. The CRHC will receive $3.1 million in federal and provincial grant funding, through the Affordable Housing Partnerships Initiative (AHPI), to go toward the total project cost of approximately $4.76 million. The City of Edmonton will contribute $310,000 through the Low-Income Housing Capital Assistance Program. The Capital Region Housing Corporation will contribute the remaining $1.35 million and will retain ownership of the property.
The 34-unit rooming house will feature 34 single room occupancies with in-room dining facilities, and shared dining and living amenities. The CRHC will receive $335,300 in federal and provincial grant funding, through AHPI, towards the total project cost of approximately $1.3 million. The Capital Region Housing Corporation will contribute the remaining $1 million and will retain ownership of the property.
AHPI is part of the Canada-Alberta Affordable Housing Program Agreement signed in June 2002 between the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta. The agreement provides for a $67.12 million federal contribution to be matched by the province and others to help increase the supply of low-cost housing in high growth communities.
Since signing the agreement, the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta have allocated over $28.9 million towards the creation of 12 projects and construction of 685 affordable housing units in Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Red Deer and Grande Prairie, Brooks, as well as in the northern remote communities of Conklin and Janvier.
While several project proposals for 2003-04 are currently under review, provincial and federal funding is expected to reach $35 million for this fiscal year. This amount will be further enhanced through contributions from other partners including municipalities, local community housing authorities, non-profit organizations, and private sector companies.
The Capital Region Housing Corporation is a management body under the Alberta Housing Act, that administers approximately 5,400 units of provincially and municipally owned community housing units and Private Landlord Rent Supplement units in the capital region, cost-shared by the federal and provincial governments.
Funding under the Canada-Alberta Affordable Housing Program Agreement is provided in the form of capital grants and is provided on a project-by-project basis. For more details, visit the Alberta Seniors Web site at www.seniors.gov.ab.ca.
Secretary of State Mahoney and Minister Woloshyn will be available for interviews at the following function:
Official Opening of WINGS of Providence a second stage housing facility for women and children who have experienced family violence.
1 p.m. - Friday, November 21, 2003
Please contact Pat Garrett, Executive Director of WINGS of Providence, at (780) 426-4985 for the confidential address to the WINGS of Providence facility.
Ed Conway
Alberta Seniors Communications
Tel.: (780) 415-9952
Jason Cobb
CMHC Communications
Tel.: (403) 515-2903
Chris Vivone
Office of Secretary of State Mahoney
Tel.: (613) 990-1707
| Applicant: | Capital Region Housing Corporation |
| Project Location: | 10722 - 103 Street Edmonton, Alberta |
| Target Clients: | Referrals from the emergency shelter system, low-income working singles and individuals on fixed income. |
| Number of Units | 62-unit apartment |
| Unit type | 60 x bed-sitting units with limited kitchen facilities 2 x studio units with full kitchen facilities |
| Proposed Rents: | $280 / month Bed-sitting units $525 / month Studio units |
| AHPI Grant: | $1,550,000 (Federal) $1,550,000 (Provincial) |
| Municipal contributions: | $310,000 Low Income Housing Capital Assistance Program |
| Other contributions: | $1,350,000 Capital Region Housing Corporation |
| Contact: | Kent Fletcher, Chief Administrative Officer Capital Region Housing Corporation Telephone: (780) 420-6161 |
Ed Conway
Alberta Seniors Communications
Tel.: (780) 415-9952
Jason Cobb
CMHC Communications
Tel.: (403) 515-2903
| Applicant: | Capital Region Housing Corporation |
| Project Location: | 10336 - 114 Street Edmonton, Alberta |
| Target Clients: | Referrals from the emergency shelter system |
| Number of Units | 34-unit rooming house |
| Unit type | 34 single-room occupancies with in-room bath facilities, shared dining and shared living amenities. |
| Proposed Rents: | $250 / month Single room units |
| AHPI Grant: | $167,650 (Federal) $167,650 (Provincial) |
| Municipal contributions: | $0 |
| Other contributions: | $1,000,000 Capital Region Housing Corporation |
| Contact: | Kent Fletcher, Chief Administrative Officer Capital Region Housing Corporation Telephone: (780) 420-6161 |
Ed Conway
Alberta Seniors Communications
Tel.: (780) 415-9952
Jason Cobb
CMHC Communications
Tel.: (403) 515-2903