Governments of Canada and Northwest Territories Extend Funding to Offer More Affordable Housing Solutions in NWT

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan. 30, 2015) -

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Together, the Governments of Canada and Northwest Territories announced an additional combined investment of more than $18 million over five years, through an extension to the Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) agreement.

"Our Government has made historic investments in housing. We recognize that the provinces and territories are best placed to decide how to target the funding because in order to make a lasting difference, the projects must reflect local housing needs and priorities," said the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development. "This latest funding will help ensure that quality, affordable housing is available for those who need it most in Northwest Territories."

"Our Government is committed to investing in affordable housing in the North and making our communities better and our country stronger," said the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council. "By partnering with the provinces and territories to invest in affordable housing, our Government is improving the quality of life for low-income Canadians, and will create jobs and opportunities for apprentices in communities."

"The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is making considerable strides in providing housing for all residents along the housing continuum," said the Honourable Robert C. McLeod, Minister of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and Minister Responsible for Homelessness. "This agreement will help the Government of the Northwest Territories continue to deliver on its priority of addressing housing needs by increasing the availability of housing and housing programs across the territory."

On December 20, 2011, the Governments of Canada and Northwest Territories announced an IAH agreement with a combined investment of $11 million for the 2011-2014 period. This new agreement extends the original agreement for the 2014-2019 period with an additional combined investment of more than $18 million. From April 2011 to September 2014, the IAH has already helped close to 213,000 households nationally, including 311 in NWT.

Under the IAH, the Northwest Territories has the flexibility to design and deliver a range of affordable housing programs to address local housing needs and priorities. The Government of the Northwest Territories, through the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC) offers a range of programming to address a variety of housing needs from renters and homeowners to persons who are homeless or who have experienced family violence.

The level of support funded through IAH includes 247 projects completed through the Contributing Assistance for Repairs and Enhancements program, which provides forgivable loans to homeowners to undertake necessary repairs to their home to ensure a safe, healthy residence and foster safe independent living; 58 units were developed to assist victims of family violence through support for three shelters; and six households received assistance under the Providing Assistance for Territorial Homeownership program, which consists of a forgivable loan for the construction or purchase of an affordable home.

Annually, the Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), invests approximately $2 billion in housing. These investments improve 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. Economic Action Plan 2013 continued this commitment with a federal investment of more than $1.25 billion over five years to renew the Investment in Affordable Housing to 2019. The Government of Canada will ensure that funds provided to provinces and territories support the use of apprentices, which will support training of skilled labour.

The NWTHC is active in all areas of the housing continuum in the Northwest Territories, including homelessness, subsidized social housing, affordable rental housing, homeownership repairs, market housing and development incentives. The initiatives and actions of the NWTHC continue to advance and contribute to the health, education and well-being of Northwest Territories residents and to the development of sustainable, vibrant and safe communities. Over the 2011-2014 period, the NWTHC has invested approximately $79 million in capital funding for housing in the Northwest Territories, this includes the NWTHC's $11 million in joint IAH funding.

To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC help Canadians meet their housing needs, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca. For more information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, call 1-800-O-Canada or visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

Backgrounder: for information on the Investment in Affordable Housing, click here.

Follow CMHC on Twitter @CMHC_ca

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