Northern Communities Building Affordable Housing

REGINA, Saskatchewan, May 20, 2005 — Seven communities in northern Saskatchewan are building a total of 46 units of affordable housing with the help of more than $2.1 million in funding from the Centenary Affordable Housing Program (CAHP) under the Canada — Saskatchewan Affordable Housing Agreement.

The projects are located in the communities of Beauval, Green Lake, Buffalo Narrows, Pinehouse, Stony Rapids, Creighton and La Loche. Three of the projects (Stony Rapids, Creighton and La Loche) are creating 36 units of affordable rental housing, while the other four projects are building single homeowner units. Total costs for the seven projects will come to over $4.4 million.

"The Government of Canada is committed to working with people in Northern Saskatchewan," said Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance, on behalf of Joe Fontana, Minister of Labour and Housing. "These new homes demonstrate the remarkable relationship we have with our partners, and our desire to help create affordable housing opportunities in these northern Saskatchewan communities."

"Our HomeFirst strategy is all about helping people find a place to call home so they can open the door to independence," said Community Resources and Employment Minister Joanne Crofford. "Projects like these 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."

The Towns of Stony Rapids and La Loche are contributing to the projects in their communities through the donation of land and buildings.

These projects are part of the Centenary Affordable Housing Program (CAHP), an intergovernmental initiative to increase the supply of affordable off-reserve housing in Saskatchewan. The program is funded by CMHC, Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, and local municipalities. CAHP provides $33 million in federal funding for affordable housing, matched by Saskatchewan, municipalities and other parties. With these matching contributions, a total of $66 million will be allocated by 2007/08 for affordable housing.

In addition to CAHP funding, the La Loche project has also received $1.35 million over two years from the Government of Canada, through the National Homelessness Initiative.

For more information, contact:

Greg Urbanoski
Community Resources and Employment
Regina
(306) 787-4011

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

Backgrounder

2005 Northern Centenary Affordable Housing Program Delivery

• In June 2002, the federal and provincial governments signed the Canada-Saskatchewan Affordable Housing Program Agreement that will result in $45.86 million to develop affordable housing in Saskatchewan over a five-year period. Of this, $6 million was allocated to the north.
  
• In the 2003 – 2004 budget, the Government of Canada committed an additional $320 million over five years to enhance and extend the national Affordable Housing Initiative to 2007 – 2008.
  
• In 2002, there were five projects for a total of 17 units delivered under CAHP through the Remote Housing Program, which is one of the vehicles used to deliver CAHP homeowner units in the north.
  
• In 2003, five projects for a total of 60 units were approved. These projects included The Dene Empowerment Centre in La Loche (7 units), which was completed January 2004, the NORTEP student residences (48 units) and three projects through the Remote Housing Program (5 units).
  
• In 2004, seven projects totaling 26 units were approved and are completed or currently under construction. These projects included two rental construction projects through the Rental Market Assistance Program (16 units) and five projects through the Remote Housing Program (10 units).
  
• In January 2005, Phase II of the Canada-Saskatchewan Affordable Housing Agreement was signed. This represents an additional $20 million to create more affordable housing in the province. The total investment by both the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan is $66 million.
  
• In addition, in February 2005, funding was provided for phase II of the La Loche project for the construction of 20 affordable housing rental units.
  
• The following is the breakdown of by location and program: