Governments of Canada and Alberta Announce Funding for Affordable Housing in Raymond

RAYMOND, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - March 19, 2015) - The Governments of Canada and Alberta are working together to build new affordable housing units for low-income seniors in Raymond. A joint investment of some $7.8 million will go towards supporting 40 units of a new, 53-unit lodge that will replace the existing Ridge View Lodge, developed in 1960, which is located at 227E-100 Street in Raymond.

Jim Hillyer, Member of Parliament for Lethbridge, on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development), along with Gary Bikman, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Cardston-Taber-Warner, made the funding announcement today.

Quick facts:

• The Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta are jointly contributing $7,840,000 under the Investments in Affordable Housing Agreement 2014-2019.
  
  
• The remaining funds for the new lodge will be contributed by the Housing Management Body, Ridge Country Housing, and/or its members.
  
  
• The joint funding comes as a result of the 2014-2019 Canada-Alberta Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement, which represents some $202 million over five years to help more individuals and families in housing need.
  
  
• Ridge Country Housing is a foundation that provides administrative management for lodge and housing units for low-income seniors and families. The foundation was created in 1995 to provide administrative management for Seniors (Lodge) Housing accommodation and Community Housing accommodation within the Town of Raymond, the Town of Milk River, the Village of Stirling, the Village of Warner and the Village of Coutts.
  
  

Quotes:

"We're committed to making life more affordable for families in Raymond and across Canada. I'm encouraged to hear that residents of Ridge View Lodge have quality, affordable housing. We'll continue to work closely with our provincial and community partners to ensure more of these success stories in the future."

- MP Jim Hillyer, Member of Parliament for Lethbridge

"We know there is a direct connection between having safe, stable housing and a seniors' overall well-being. Our commitment is to build quality accommodation options that meet a variety of needs. This investment helps ensure seniors can stay in their communities, close to family, friends and neighbours."

- Gary Bikman, MLA for Cardston-Taber-Warner

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 $220 million towards seniors' housing across the province. This includes $144.5 million in federal-provincial funding to renew and expand 14 lodges. Renovation projects and replacement units funded by the IAH in 2012-13 include government-owned lodges in Boyle, Camrose, Canmore, Drayton Valley, Forestburg and Milk River.
  
  

Stay connected:

- Follow CMHC on Twitter @CMHC_ca

- Follow Alberta Seniors on Twitter @YourAlberta