Canadian Mortgage News

January 2005 National News Archive

New Affordable Housing Available in Meadow Lake

MEADOW LAKE, Saskatchewan, January 7, 2005 — Today the Town of Meadow Lake celebrated the grand opening of the new Martin Gran Affordable Housing Project, featuring 12 new rental apartments for low-income families.

The total cost for the project is $590,000, of which $216,000 is provided through a forgivable loan by the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP). This strategy is cost-shared by the federal and provincial governments. The Town of Meadow Lake donated the former Martin Gran School, which was scheduled for demolition.

"We are committed to working with our partners on affordable housing," stated Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance, on behalf of Joe Fontana, Minister of Labour and Housing. "These 12 new households highlight our desire to help create and fund innovative housing opportunities here in Meadow Lake."

Owned by Meadow Lake Properties, a private non-profit corporation, the project converted the former Martin Gran School into a 12-unit walk-up apartment for low-income families. The building includes one, two, and three-bedroom apartments with rents set at the lower-end of the market.

"Our HomeFirst strategy is all about helping people find a place to call home so they can open the door to independence," First Nations and Métis Relations Minister Maynard Sonntag said on behalf of Community Resources and Employment Minister Joanne Crofford. "Projects like this one in our northern communities contribute to the health and well-being of our residents and help them participate in the social and economic life of the province."

"These new apartments will benefit our residents," Meadow Lake Mayor Gabe Fournier said. "We are very pleased we could participate in the re-development of an existing building into affordable rental housing. It will help all of us continue building a lasting and sustainable community.

RRAP, a component of the province's HomeFirst five-year housing strategy, is designed to enhance and improve existing housing, as well as create new housing, for low-income households to meet minimum health and safety standards. The program is 75 per cent funded by the federal government and 25 per cent by the government of Saskatchewan.

For more information, contact:

Herman Hulshof
Community Resources and Employment
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-0916

Jason Cobb
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Calgary
Phone: (403) 515-2903

Richard Levesque
Town of Meadow Lake
Meadow Lake
Phone: (306) 236-3622

News source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)