Construction Underway for New Seniors Complex in MacGregor

MACGREGOR, MANITOBA--(Marketwired - July 3, 2015) - Construction has started on Victoria Place, a new 16-unit assisted living housing complex that will serve the needs of seniors in the region who wish to stay close to their families, community and other necessary supports. The announcement was made today by Member of Parliament Robert Sopuck, on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development) and Manitoba Municipal Government Minister Drew Caldwell.

The two-storey, 19,000 square-foot building is located at 66 Victoria Street. It will include 12 one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units, and will be fully accessible for residents with mobility issues. Residents will benefit from a multipurpose room, common dining room and kitchen and a small laundry room on each floor, as well as other non-residential space including a tub room, salon and guest room.

Quick facts:

• Nor-Mac Community Assisted Living Initiative Inc. (NMCALI) will manage the property. The group incorporated in 2010 with the goal of developing the first assisted living project in MacGregor.

• Victoria Place will serve low-to-moderate income seniors from MacGregor and the surrounding region. Up to four units will be available with rents geared to income.

• The governments of Canada and Manitoba will provide $960,000 under the federal-provincial Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) 2014-2019 agreement. NMCALI will contribute more than $1.2 million from fundraising efforts as well as $2.4 million in mortgage financing. Additional funding has been committed by the Municipality of North Norfolk.

• The building is expected to open to residents by mid-2016.

• In July 2014, the governments of Canada and Manitoba announced a five-year extension to the IAH agreement. This joint investment will provide an additional combined $104 million over five years to support further affordable and social housing programs.

Quotes:

"Our Government recognizes how important it is for seniors to live independently, close to their families and friends. We are committed to ensuring that all Canadians have an affordable place to call home, and I am pleased that there will soon be more affordable housing options for seniors right here in MacGregor." - Robert Sopuck, Member of Parliament for Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette, on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development)

"This is an important project for seniors and families in MacGregor, and is greatly anticipated by the community. It will help seniors stay well with the supports they need, while also remaining close to family, friends and other services." - Honourable Drew Caldwell, Minister of Manitoba Municipal Government

Associated links:

• Annually, the Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), invests approximately $2 billion in housing. These investments improve 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. Economic Action Plan 2013 continued this commitment with a federal investment of more than $1.25 billion over five years to renew the Investment in Affordable Housing to 2019. The Government of Canada will ensure that funds provided to provinces and territories support the use of apprentices, which will support training of skilled labour. To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC help Canadians meet their housing needs, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca.

• The Manitoba government recently reached its five-year goal to provide funding commitments to create 1,500 new units of affordable housing throughout the province. The province is now working toward its new commitment to create another 500 affordable and 500 social housing units in the next three years. Manitoba Housing and Community Development's overall strategy complements Budget 2015, a plan to create good jobs, grow the economy and protect front-line services by focusing on what matters most to Manitoba families. More information is available at www.gov.mb.ca/housing.

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Connect with Manitoba Housing at: www.gov.mb.ca/housing