Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Presents Habitat for Humanity Affiliate With First Annual Aboriginal Housing Award

BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - May 20, 2011) - Today, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) presented Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg with the CMHC Award for Outstanding Contribution to Habitat for Humanity Aboriginal Housing.

The award was presented at Habitat for Humanity Canada's National Conference Awards Gala. Habitat affiliates from across Canada are in Burnaby this weekend for their annual general meeting and national conference.

"I would like to congratulate and thank Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg for its contribution to providing safe and affordable housing for Aboriginal Canadians," said Karen Kinsley, President, CMHC. "The Aboriginal Housing Program started through a partnership between CMHC and Habitat for Humanity Canada in 2007. Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg has completed 15 homes under the Program. This is a remarkable feat, not only for all the hard work involved, but more importantly for all the families served."

Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg was chosen to win the first annual award for its role in helping to achieve the dream of homeownership for several Aboriginal families. The Habitat for Humanity Awards Committee considered a number of key areas in the selection of the winner for this award including innovative solutions to challenges faced in Aboriginal housing development; association and community collaboration on Aboriginal housing development; number of Aboriginal families served; and number of major renovations, including energy efficiencies, to Aboriginal housing.

"We're very proud of the Aboriginal projects our affiliates are working on across Canada and appreciate CMHC's partnership in this important work," said Stewart Hardacre, President & CEO, Habitat for Humanity Canada. "We're especially proud to recognize the leadership role Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg has taken in building affordable housing in partnership with their Aboriginal community."

CMHC is proud to be the Lead and Founding National Partner for Habitat's Aboriginal Housing Program, which seeks to increase the number of Habitat homes built for Aboriginal families both on- and off-reserve.

This partnership contributes to CMHC's ongoing efforts to improve access to affordable Aboriginal housing, which includes investing directly in new social housing, housing renovation, housing capacity development and supporting the First Nations Market Housing Fund.

CMHC has been Canada's national housing agency for more than 65 years. CMHC is committed to helping Canadians access a wide choice of quality, environmentally sustainable, affordable housing solutions, while making vibrant, healthy communities and cities a reality across the country.