Joint Government Funding Increases Affordable Housing Across Alberta

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - July 21, 2011) - Low income and homeless Albertans will soon have greater access to affordable housing, thanks to an almost $90 million federal-provincial investment. The twelve projects receiving grants will create over 800 new housing units which will benefit an estimated 1,600 families, individuals, seniors and persons with disabilities.

Rob Anders, Member of Parliament for Calgary West, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with the Honourable Jonathan Denis, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs made the announcement today to celebrate the twelve projects being funded, including Lions Village in Calgary. Representatives from Lions Village were present at the announcement to commemorate start of construction.

Lions Village will bring an additional 90 units of affordable rental accommodation for seniors and homeless individuals to the Calgary market.

"New construction projects are a great way to stimulate our economy and put Albertans to work," said MP Anders. "Today we are celebrating not only the construction of the Lions Village project here in Calgary, but also work underway on housing projects across the province. These will make a real and lasting difference in our communities, improving access to affordable housing and offering a better quality of life for our residents."

"Our programs leverage community partnerships so we can meet the housing needs of Albertans most in need—at good value to the taxpayer," said Minister Denis.

"The Lions Club of Calgary is delighted to partner with the federal and provincial governments to create the Lions Village, a much needed 90-unit housing project that provides accommodation for Calgary seniors who are functionally independent and in need of specialized housing," said Otto Silzer, Project Chair and Treasurer of The Lions Club of Calgary. "Our organization is proud of its involvement with this project and we hope it becomes a benchmark for future senior's housing developments in Calgary."

The projects announced today are receiving funding made available through Canada's Economic Action Plan and the extension of the Affordable Housing Initiative. Overall, the federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to fund $238 million in housing investments under the amended Canada-Alberta Affordable Housing Program Agreement.

Non-profit organizations, private businesses and municipalities were eligible to apply for the funding through Alberta's 2010-2011 Housing Capitals Initiatives program, which leverages government funding with non-profit and private-sector dollars. Successful applicants receive funding to purchase or build housing units, renovate existing rental units, develop secondary units in private homes or support other options as identified by the community.

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. The Action Plan provides $475 million, over two years, to build new rental housing for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. Overall it provides more than $2 billion for the construction of new and the renovation of existing social housing, plus $2 billion in low-cost loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.

More information on this and other measures in Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government's plan to stimulate the economy and protect those hit hardest by the global recession, 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.

The Government of Alberta is on track to reach its goal to create 11,000 housing units for low-income and homeless Albertans by 2012. More than 10,800 housing units have been supported during the first four years of the provincial housing initiative. For more information on housing support, visit www.housing.alberta.ca.

The Alberta government is working to build a better Alberta by fostering economic growth, strengthening our health and education systems, investing in infrastructure, supporting safe and strong communities and ensuring a clean and healthy environment. The Housing Capital Initiatives program contributes to this goal.

Backgrounder: 2010/2011 Housing Capital Initiatives Projects

Together the Government of Canada and Government of Alberta are investing almost $90 million, including funding from Canada's Economic Action Plan and the extension of the Affordable Housing Initiative, for 12 projects that will provide more housing units for low income and homeless Albertans.