Governments Of Canada and Alberta Invest in New Affordable Housing for Seniors in Clairmont

CLAIRMONT, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - July 30, 2015) - The Governments of Canada and Alberta are working together to build affordable housing for seniors in Clairmont. A joint investment of some $19.6 million will go towards the construction of 100 units of affordable housing in a new, 150-unit seniors' complex. The new development will help to meet the present and future needs of low-income seniors in Clairmont, Grand Prairie and surrounding communities.

Chris Warkentin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Member of Parliament for Peace River, Alberta, on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development), along with Deputy Speaker Debbie Jabbour, on behalf of the Honourable Sarah Hoffman, Minister of Health and Minister of Seniors, made the funding announcement today.

Quick facts:

• The Governments of Canada and Alberta are jointly contributing $19,600,000 under the Investment in Affordable Housing 2014-2019 agreement.
  
  
• This agreement represents some $202 million over five years to help more individuals and families in need of housing.
  
  
• The new seniors' complex will be comprised of 77 new seniors' lodge units and 73 affordable enhanced seniors' apartments.
  
  
• The Grande Spirit Foundation will finance 50 of the facility's 73 seniors' apartments.
  
  
• The County of Grande Prairie has committed to providing services to the property at a value of $700,000.
  
  
• A five-acre parcel of land has been provided by a private donor.
  
  
• The Grande Spirit Foundation is a Housing Management Body established under the Alberta Housing Act that is committed to providing seniors and low-income families housing and support services.
  
  

Quotes:

"The Government of Canada is pleased to partner with the provincial government as well as the Grande Spirit Foundation to provide quality, affordable housing through the development of this new lodge. This project will benefit Clairmont and area county residents by developing needed housing for many seniors of this community." - Chris Warkentin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Member of Parliament for Peace River

"We know that safe, stable, and affordable housing contributes enormously to a senior's overall well-being. We're proud to continue to invest in rural seniors lodges, knowing it means seniors can stay in the communities they helped to build, close to family, friends and neighbours." - The Honourable Sarah Hoffman, Minister of Seniors, MLA for Edmonton-Glenora

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.
  
  
• In the last four years, the Alberta government has dedicated more than $300 million towards seniors' housing across the province for capital maintenance, upgrading, regeneration, replacement, and the addition of new stock. This includes $119.7 million in federal-provincial funding to renew and expand 14 lodges. Renovation projects and replacement units funded by the IAH in 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2014-15 include government-owned lodges in Blairmore, Boyle, Bonnyville, Camrose, Canmore, Cold Lake, Drayton Valley, Forestburg, Grande Prairie, Lamont, Magrath, Milk River, Rimbey, Sedgewick and Sundre.
  
  

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