Canada's Economic Action Plan Creates Jobs and Improves Social Housing in Alberta

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Jan. 25, 2011) - The Government of Canada announced today that 35 housing co-operatives and non-profit organizations located in Alberta will receive almost $2.2 million through Canada's Economic Action Plan, as part of the social housing renovation and retrofit investments.

The announcement was made at Whippletree West Housing Co-operative by Lee Richardson, Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

"Through Year 2 of Canada's Economic Action Plan, our Government remains committed to giving a hand-up to Canadians who need it most," said MP Richardson. "That's why we are pleased to have invested in the renovation and retrofit of these units in Alberta, which will go a long way to providing safe and affordable homes for years to come."

The Government of Canada, through Canada's Economic Action Plan, announced $1 billion for social housing renovation and retrofit. Of the $1 billion, $850 million is being delivered by provinces and territories on a cost-matched basis for existing federally assisted social housing projects which they administer on behalf of the partnership. The remaining $150 million is being delivered by CMHC for existing federally assisted off-reserve housing which it directly administers. Eligible repairs include general improvements, energy efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications in support of persons with disabilities.

The housing co-operatives and non-profits that will receive contributions from the Government of Canada are outlined in the attached backgrounder.

"The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF Canada) is the organized voice of the Canadian Co-operative housing movement," said CHF Canada Executive Director Nicholas Gazzard. "The federal government has responded to the financial need we identified with a stimulus funding program which will help to ensure that present and future residents have a safe, comfortable home for years to come."

"On behalf of the membership of Whippletree West Housing Co-operative Ltd., I would like to thank the Government of Canada and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for the funds we've received through Canada's Economic Action Plan," said Joan Talbot, Board Chair of Whippletree West Housing Co-operative Ltd. "With the grant money we received, we were able to retrofit all 337 of our complex's 55+ year old windows."

More information on this and other measures in Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government's plan to stimulate the economy and protect those hit hardest by the global recession, can be found at ww.actionplan.gc.ca.

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/housingactionplan. 

BACKGROUNDER

The housing co-operatives and non-profit organizations that will receive contributions from the Government of Canada being announced today are:

ACTION NORTH RECOVERY CENTRE	$1,365
ACTON HOUSE HOUSING CO-OP	$7,951
ACTON HOUSE HOUSING CO-OP	$24,573
ACTON HOUSE HOUSING CO-OP	$6,545
ACTON HOUSE HOUSING CO-OP	$5,854
ACTON HOUSE HOUSING CO-OP	$5,854
ACTON HOUSE HOUSING CO-OP	$6,545
ACTON HOUSE HOUSING CO-OP	$6,545
CALGARY EAST VILLAGE HOUSING SOCIETY	$139,957
CALGARY HOUSING COMPANY	$33,507
CATHOLIC CHARITIES SOCIETY	$5,366
CATHOLIC CHARITIES SOCIETY	$15,820
CATHOLIC CHARITIES SOCIETY	$29,469
CATHOLIC CHARITIES SOCIETY	$5,502
CATHOLIC CHARITIES SOCIETY	$16,561
CATHOLIC CHARITIES SOCIETY	$8,351
CATHOLIC CHARITIES SOCIETY	$5,269
COPE GROUP HOME ROCKY II	$18,952
DEERFOOT ESTATES HOUSING CO-OP LTD.	$211,628
HOMESTEAD HOUSING CO-OPERATIVE LTD.	$161,125
HORIZON HOUSING SOCIETY	$14,373
HORIZON HOUSING SOCIETY	$13,346
HROMADA HOUSING CO-OP	$143,641
IDEAL HOUSING CO-OPERATIVE	$291,112
INTEGRA CO-OPERATIVE LTD.	$15,104
INTEGRA CO-OPERATIVE LTD.	$17,296
JUBILEE HOUSING CO-OP LTD.	$11,760
KUANNA HOUSING CO-OP	$55,867
MOOSE COUNTRY HOUSING CO-OP LTD.	$75,614
PARKVIEW LODGE	$12,364
RUBEN DARIO HOUSING CO-OP LTD.	$52,160
SARCEE MEADOWS HOUSING CO-OP	$166,843
SUNDANCE HOUSING CO-OPERATIVE LTD.	$40,789
WEST SCENIC ACRES HOUSING CO-OP LTD.	$274,525
WHIPPLETREE WEST HOUSING CO-OP LTD.	$292,440

RENOVATION AND RETROFIT OF EXISTING SOCIAL HOUSING ADMINISTERED BY CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

The Government of Canada's commitment to affordable housing is significant.

Overall, Canada's Economic Action Plan provides a total of $7.8 billion to build quality housing, stimulate construction, create jobs, encourage home ownership and enhance the energy efficiency of Canadian homes. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) will deliver more than $2 billion to provide new and renovated housing for more than 200,000 Canadian households.

Co-operative and non-profit housing represents an important form of housing for many low and moderate-income households. A portion of the existing units are aging and require repairs and upgrading to meet modern energy efficiency and accessibility standards.

As part of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government will invest $1 billion to renovate and retrofit existing social housing. Of this amount, $850 million will be used for existing social housing projects administered by provinces and territories, which are in receipt of annual federal funding. Provinces and territories are required to cost-share this funding on a 50-50 basis and are responsible for program design and delivery.

The remainder of the $1 billion, $150 million, will be delivered over two years to address the needs of existing social housing units directly funded and administered by CMHC. This $150 million is targeted, under the Renovation and Retrofit of Existing Social Housing Initiative (the "Renovation and Retrofit Initiative"), to off-reserve federally funded and administered social housing units currently subject to an operating agreement under a National Housing Act social housing program. The following criteria apply to the $150 million being delivered by CMHC:

• This initiative will help address the demand for renovation, general improvement, energy efficiency upgrade or conversion, regeneration and modifications for persons with disabilities;

• Applicants must have the capacity to undertake work quickly and must meet all other program eligibility criteria; and

• Priority will be given to sponsors who have managed their projects well and who do not have sufficient funds in their replacement reserve to carry out repairs.

Eligible repairs include, but are not limited to repairs to existing building components, replacement or construction of worn out major building components, major building services, basic facilities and equipment.