Governments of Canada and Ontario Celebrate New Affordable Housing in Oshawa

OSHAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 26, 2012) - The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario and The Regional Municipality of Durham celebrated the official opening of 12 new affordable housing rental units in Oshawa. The project is supported by $840,000 in funding through the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program. The construction of this project has created up to 30 jobs in Ontario, and helps to meet the housing needs of low-income individuals in the Oshawa area.

Colin Carrie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Oshawa, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC); Joe Dickson, Member of Provincial Parliament for Ajax-Pickering, on behalf of the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, along with Regional Councillor Lorne Coe, Chair of the Health & Social Services Committee, on behalf of Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer Roger Anderson, made the announcement.

"Our Government is committed to giving a hand-up to those who need it most here in Oshawa," said PS Carrie. "That's why we are proud to have invested in the construction of these new units in Oshawa, which will go a long way to providing safe, affordable homes for years to come."

"The importance of having a safe and affordable place to call home is essential to building stronger communities throughout this province," said MPP Joe Dickson. "The construction of these 12 units will provide affordable housing for residents as well as contribute to the local economy."

"Today we are celebrating the development of new, affordable housing opportunities for the residents of Durham Region, thanks to a significant contribution from our municipal, provincial and federal partners," said Regional Councillor Lorne Coe. "This development represents an investment in our region, and a commitment from all partners to ensure that those members of our community who are experiencing economic challenges have access to affordable housing in Durham."

The 12-unit project located in Oshawa at 1529 Ritson Road South, received $840,000 through a joint investment under the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement. The federal and provincial funding is complemented by more than $2.25 in municipal financial incentives from The Regional Municipality of Durham. Property taxes for the affordable housing units will be equivalent to the single residential rate for the next 20 years.

The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest more than $2 billion in housing this year. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will be spent in support of almost 605,000 households living in existing social housing. In Ontario, this represents some 237,750 households. These investments are improving 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.

Ontario continues to build new affordable housing and repair existing units for Ontarians with housing needs. Since 2009, the provincial government has provided nearly $183 million to build new rental housing units for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. Ontario's overall investment of over $2.5 billion has translated into the construction and repair of more than 270,000 housing units and the provision of 35,000 rent supplements for Ontario families on fixed incomes. The province's Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy sets a strong foundation for a more efficient, accessible affordable housing system in Ontario.

Affordable housing is a key component of Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy. Download a copy of the Government of Ontario's Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy. To find out more about affordable housing in Ontario, visit www.ontario.ca/housing.

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.