Federal And Provincial Governments Support Saskatchewan Housing Initiatives

October 11, 2018

The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are working together to deliver more affordable housing solutions for households in greatest need across the province with a combined investment of nearly $2.39 million.

This funding will help create 30 affordable housing units through six projects in five communities, including:

• $570,000 to Gabriel Housing Corporation (Gabriel) – four units for hard-to-house families in Regina;
• $470,000 to Oxford House – two five-bed co-housing units in Regina for individuals living independently who require some supports;
• $465,000 to River Bank Developments for their Homes of Hope project consisting of four single-family homes for larger families in Prince Albert;
• $450,000 toward the development of two single-family units in La Loche and Île-à-la-Crosse under the Trades Training Program, operated by local housing authorities;
• $434,000 to the Lighthouse for 10 co-housing spaces for individuals who can live independently with limited support in Saskatoon.

Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with Regina Pasqua MLA Muhammad Fiaz on behalf of Social Services Minister and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) Paul Merriman, City of Regina Mayor Michael Fougere, Gabriel Housing Corporation Chief Executive Officer Doug Moran, made the announcement at the opening of Gabriel Housing Corporation’s 12-unit rental housing project for hard-to-house single parents and their children in Regina.

“The Government of Canada’s National Housing Strategy will remove 530,000 families from housing need and cut chronic homelessness in half,” said Goodale.  “As part of that work, today we’re not only celebrating the opening of a new project for single parents and their children, we’re also announcing funding for new affordable housing projects across Saskatchewan to help support those in the greatest need.  Together with our partners, we’re making concrete progress across the province.”

“Our government is pleased to support these housing initiatives across Saskatchewan,” Fiaz said.  “We believe in keeping Saskatchewan strong, and together with our partners, we are continuing to make a difference in the lives of Saskatchewan people.  Housing is a basic need that we all share, and these projects will add 30 more safe, quality homes for Saskatchewan people in greatest housing need.”

“Supportive affordable housing is one of Regina’s biggest areas of need, and I am grateful for the opportunity to support this worthwhile project,” Fougere said.  “Gabriel Housing has a very long history in our city, and the addition of these new units will make a tangible, impactful change in the lives of people who are most in need in our community.”

“Gabriel Housing Corporation and the Board of Directors are very pleased that our partners, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Saskatchewan Housing Corporation and the City of Regina are assisting us in reaching our goal of providing safe, healthy and affordable housing and homes to Aboriginal families,” Moran said.  “Along with our partner, Eagle Heart Centre, we will not only be providing 12 young mothers and their children with a safe, healthy and affordable home, but we will also be bringing them a full suite of support services that will add to the stability and growth a young family requires to attain their long-term goals.  This project also assists Gabriel Housing Corporation in meeting the housing needs of the Métis community through diversification and expansion.”

Quick Facts:

• This project consists of six one-bedroom (480 ft² or 44.59 m² and six two-bedroom units (680 ft² or 63.17 m²) in a four-level apartment building on land owned by Gabriel at 3876 Rae Street.  All units are accessible by elevator.
• The Government of Canada, through CMHC, and the Government of Saskatchewan, through SHC, jointly contributed approximately $1.6 million to Gabriel’s Rae Street project under the Canada-Saskatchewan Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement.
• The City of Regina provided $240,000 in funding and additional incentives toward the project.  Gabriel contributed about $1.1 million in the form of cash/land equity and mortgage financing.
• Gabriel will be leasing the building to Eagle Heart Centre (formerly Aboriginal Family Services) who will provide the tenants and support services including addictions counselling, employment supports, parenting and relationship counselling and cultural activities.
• The Government of Canada is currently rolling out its National Housing Strategy (NHS)—an ambitious 10-year, $40 billion plan that will create 100,000 new housing units and lift 530,000 families out of housing need as well as repair and renew more than 300,000 housing units and reduce chronic homelessness by 50 per cent.
• The NHS is built on strong partnerships between federal, provincial and territorial governments, and on continuous engagement with others, including municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, and the social and private sectors to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians.
• This project is aligned with a number of strategic priorities that were outlined in the province’s Housing Strategy, the Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan and the Disability Strategy.  These priorities include the need to increase housing supply, improve housing affordability and support individuals and families in greatest housing need.
• Gabriel is a non-profit organization established in 1981 to help improve housing and employment opportunities for Métis people in Regina.  Gabriel owns and operates 370 social and affordable housing units in Regina.

Associated Links:

• As Canada’s authority on housing, 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. For more information, please visit www.cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.  To find out more about the NHS, visit www.placetocallhome.ca.
• In October 2012, the Government of Saskatchewan released the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth: Vision 2020 and Beyond, which sets out the government’s vision for a province of 1.2 million people by 2020.  The plan identifies principles, goals and actions to ensure Saskatchewan is capturing the opportunities and meeting the challenges of a growing province.  Since 2007, the Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $780 million to develop or repair more than 16,000 housing units across our province.  To learn more, visit www.saskatchewan.ca.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Valerie Glazer
Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Ottawa
Phone: 819-654-5546
Email: valerie.glazer@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Leonard Catling
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Vancouver
Phone: 604-787-1787
Email: lcatling@cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Leya Moore
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3610
Email: leya.moore@gov.sk.ca

NT5