OSHAWA,
ON, Aug. 1, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, the federal
government announced nearly $31
million in contributions and low-cost loans through the
Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) to help build and repair 1,838
affordable homes in the Durham Region.
The announcement was made by the Honourable Ya'ara Saks,
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions – on behalf of the
Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and
Communities – alongside the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of
Small Business, Ryan Turnbull Member of Parliament for Whitby, Jennifer
O'Connell, Member of Parliament for Pickering—Uxbridge and
Michael Coteau, Member of Parliament for Don Valley East.
The announcement took place at Conant Place at 1050 Simcoe
Street South in Oshawa, which
received more that $14.5 million to
build 54 homes for seniors. The building will be operated by the
Durham Region Non-Profit Housing Corporation and is conveniently
located near grocery stores, transit, and medical offices.
A detailed list of projects that received funding is provided in
an appendix to this release.
Quotes:
"Everyone deserves a place to call their own and the Affordable
Housing Fund is one way we're helping make that a reality for
Canadians. We will keep investing in affordable housing projects
like the ones announced today, and working with partners across the
country, to end the housing crisis." – The Honourable Sean
Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and
Communities
"The safety and stability that comes with having a home has a
direct impact on physical and mental health. The investment
announced today will help ensure Canadians of any age can find
affordable housing for themselves and their families. This one
investment made today can have a generational impact on the health
of both families and communities in Oshawa." – The Honourable
Ya'ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate
Minister of Health
"Having a place to call home is a fundamental right for
everyone. Through our government's Affordable Housing Fund, we are
making this goal a reality for more individuals and families who
call the Durham region home. Our
ongoing investments in affordable housing initiatives and
partnerships across the country are critical steps toward
overcoming the housing crisis and creating a bright future for all
Canadians, no matter who you are or where you are from." – The
Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small
Business
Quick facts:
- The federal funding announced today is helping create a total
of 64 new homes and is leading to the repairs of 1,774 homes.
- The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) provides funding
through low-interest and/or forgivable loans or contributions to
help build new affordable homes and renovate and repair existing,
affordable and community housing.
- Through the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, the government
announced an additional $1 billion
for the Affordable Housing Fund, bringing the total funding to over
$14 billion. To further support
non-profit, co-operative, and public housing providers and respond
to the needs of those most impacted by the housing crisis, Budget
2024 committed an additional $1
billion to the fund.
- This program under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) gives
priority to projects that help people who need it most, including
women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous
peoples, people living with disabilities, those with mental health
or addiction issues, veterans, and young adults.
- As of March 2024, the federal
government has committed $50.97
billion through the NHS to support the creation of over
146,000 units and the repair of over 286,000 units.
- To support the Government's work to grow housing supply and
address the need for more affordable and rental homes, CMHC is
implementing the Frequent Builder framework.
- The Frequent Builder framework will help expedite applications
for the Affordable Housing Fund and the Apartment Construction Loan
Program. The Frequent Builder status is given to existing
housing providers with a proven track record of building
multi-residential units. Different criteria apply to Governments,
non-profit and for-profit organizations to qualify for Frequent
Builder status.
- Frequent Builders may receive benefits such as priority
treatment, a streamlined process through intake, underwriting and
approval stages, underwriting and advancing flexibilities, as well
as the possibility of funding commitments for future years which
will allow funding predictability and better planning for their
pipeline of projects.
Additional Information:
- Visit Canada.ca/housing for the most requested Government of
Canada housing information.
- CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and
financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need,
and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of
Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim
is that everyone in Canada has a
home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more
information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and
Facebook.
- To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, please
visit www.placetocallhome.ca.
Appendix: Projects receiving funding under AHF
Project
Name
|
Region/City
|
Funding
|
Units
|
Conant Place
|
Oshawa
|
$14,561,801
|
54
|
Ashley Manor Housing
Corporation Accessibility and Energy Efficiency
Improvements
|
Ajax
|
$1,722,000
|
574
|
Regional Municipality
of Durham Repairs
|
Durham
|
$12,000,000
|
1,200
|
Harmony Ridge
Riverside
|
Oshawa
|
$2,715,863
|
10
|
TOTAL
|
|
$30,999,664
|
1,838
|
SOURCE Government of Canada