Governments of Canada and New Brunswick Celebrate New Affordable Housing in Moncton

MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK--(Marketwired - May 22, 2014) - Thirty new affordable housing units for low-income non-elderly singles and people with disabilities were officially opened today in Moncton.

Robert Goguen, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Member of Parliament for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development), along with the Honourable Madeleine Dubé, New Brunswick Minister of Social Development, made the announcement today.

"Our Government is helping to make affordable housing available in New Brunswick and across Canada," said PS Goguen. "These new units in Moncton will help individuals with low-income and persons with disabilities access safe and affordable housing that meets their needs."

"Investing in affordable housing is fundamental to rebuilding New Brunswick together," said Minister Dubé. "I am pleased to celebrate this project, which shows our government's commitment to enhancing the quality of life of New Brunswickers and their families, while living within our means."

The 61-unit development is located at 86 Cameron Street and includes 30 affordable housing units. In addition to the $1.2 million in federal funding, the housing development received more than $2.7 million in rent supplements from the Province of New Brunswick. The developer of this new housing development is Résidence Cameron Ltd.

Funding for this project was made available as a result of a joint investment under the 2011-2014 Investment in Affordable Housing program.

Annually, the Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), will invest approximately $2 billion in housing. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will be spent in support of close to 600,000 households living in existing social housing. In New Brunswick, this represents an estimated 14,850 households. The remaining funding supports housing-related activities and affordable housing programs, including the Investment in Affordable Housing. These investments are improving 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. Close to 177,600 households across Canada are no longer in housing need as a result of funding provided under the IAH from April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013.

These new affordable housing units are part of the New Brunswick Government's strategy to rebuild New Brunswick together and enhance the quality of life of its residents. The investments made by the provincial government are helping to build and strengthen communities in New Brunswick by providing quality, affordable housing options for low-income individuals, families and seniors. For more information on affordable housing projects in New Brunswick, visit www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/social_development/housing.html.

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-schl.gc.ca.