Social Housing Being Renovated in Peterborough County

PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 14, 2011) - The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario today announced that Peterborough County has received more than $2.8 million to repair existing social housing projects through the Social Housing Renovation and Retrofit Program.

Dean Del Mastro, Member of Parliament for Peterborough, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Jeff Leal, Member of Provincial Parliament for Peterborough, on behalf of the Honourable Rick Bartolucci, Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, along with Daryl Bennett, Mayor of Peterborough, made the announcement.

"In Ontario and across Canada, Canada's Economic Action Plan is working," said MP Del Mastro. "Almost 1,700 renovation projects across Peterborough County are underway and this is helping the local economy and putting construction workers and trades-people to work quickly. More importantly, we are giving a hand-up to seniors, families and individuals who need it most."

"Ontario is committed to strengthening our social housing system," said MPP Leal. "As part of the government's Open Ontario Plan, this social housing program has helped improve the quality of life for thousands of Peterborough County residents. We'll continue working to ensure that every Ontarian has access to a safe and affordable place to live."

"I am delighted that the Program has helped the Peterborough Housing Corporation make much needed repairs to our housing stock. Of course, the new lift at Springwood is not only about good repair, but about improved mobility, which is a key to independence and an improved quality of life for tenants," said Mayor Daryl Bennett.

Repairs that are eligible for funding include general improvements, energy-efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications to support persons with disabilities. These repairs will help improve the quality of social housing for low-income seniors, persons with disabilities and families. The following municipalities received funding under this program: Keene, Lakefield, Norwood, Warsaw, and the City of Peterborough.

Today's announcement was made at 53 Spring Street in Norwood, which received $150,000 for renovations to the property. The funding provides a handi-lift system for residents in the building who live with mobility challenges and also improves accessibility in an existing stairwell.

The Government of Canada wants to improve the quality of existing social housing to ensure that Canadians on fixed incomes can live with independence and dignity in their communities, close to family and friends. Canada's Economic Action Plan provides $850 million, over two years, for the renovation and retrofit of existing social housing. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for the construction of new and the renovation of existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in low-cost loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. Canada's Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada's commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless.

In 2009, Ontario allocated a combined federal and provincial investment of $704 million for the renovation of social housing, and $540 million for the creation of new affordable housing. The provincial investment is part of the Open Ontario plan, and is creating an estimated 23,000 jobs, while strengthening local economies across the province. Ontario's investment will result in the repair of more than 150,000 social housing units, while creating more than 4,500 new affordable housing units for low-income families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. As well, the province has made available $70 million for the use of renewable energy technologies to improve energy efficiency in social housing as part of its Green Energy Strategy.

Affordable housing is a key component of Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy (http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/breakingthecycle/index.aspx). Download a copy of the Government of Ontario's Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy (http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=8590). To find out more about affordable housing in Ontario, visit www.ontario.ca/housing.

More information on this and other measures in Canada's Economic Action Plan can be found at www.actionplan.gc.ca. To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan.

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For more information, visit: www.cmhc.ca.

www.ontario.ca/housing

BACKGROUNDER

Renovation and Retrofit of Existing Social Housing Projects in Peterborough County

Municipality	Units	Federal and Provincial Funding
Keene	22	$26,270
Lakefield	5	$35,400
Norwood	2	$169,385
Peterborough	1,652	$2,607,582
Warsaw	1	$7,700
Grand total	1,682	$2,846,337