Governments of Canada and Ontario Celebrate New Affordable Housing in Windsor

WINDSOR, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 11, 2011) - The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario and the City of Windsor celebrated the official opening of a 15-unit affordable rental housing development. The development is supported by more than $1.7 million in funding through the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program. 

Jeff Watson, Member of Parliament for Essex, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC); and the Honourable Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development and Trade and Member of Provincial Parliament for Windsor West, on behalf of the Honourable Rick Bartolucci, Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; along with Eddie Francis, Mayor of Windsor, made the announcement. 

"Our Government is committed to action to help those in need and very pleased to have invested in this project in Windsor," said MP Watson. "These units are more than just a safe and affordable place to live; they are the key to a better life for those in the community who will call them home."

"We are providing safe, affordable, and accessible housing for people in our community who need it the most," said MPP Pupatello. "As part of our Open Ontario plan, construction of these new units will stimulate the local economy by providing jobs and supporting local businesses. This project will make a positive difference in the lives of many people right here in Windsor."

"This is a perfect example of the benefit of partnerships between government and community agencies. Thanks to a tri-level funding partnership between the Governments of Canada, Ontario and the City of Windsor, we can now provide 15 new, much-needed supportive, accessible and affordable housing units," said Mayor Eddie Francis.

The 15-unit project located at 1101 McDougall Street in Windsor received more than $1.7 million funded through the two-year extension of the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program. The federal and provincial funding is complimented by $168,000 in municipal financial incentives.

The Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement comprises a commitment of $301 million from each of the two senior levels of government. In total, the federal, provincial and municipal governments will invest at least $734 million in the program, which will provide affordable housing for up to 20,000 households in Ontario.

In 2008, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over five years to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless. Canada's Economic Action Plan builds on this with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years for the construction of new and the renovation of existing social housing, as well as up to $2 billion in low-cost loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. Combined for Ontario, this means a further $1.2 billion joint investment under the amended Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment.

In 2009, Ontario allocated a combined federal and provincial investment of $704 million for the renovation of social housing, and $540 million for the creation of new affordable housing. This investment is part of the Open Ontario plan, and is creating an estimated 23,000 jobs over the course of the program, while strengthening local economies across the province. To date, Ontario has approved more than $521 million for construction-ready projects, which will provide affordable housing for low-income families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, and $539.60 million for repairs benefiting some 175,389 social housing units.

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. For more information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, call 1-800-O Canada or visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

More information about affordable housing in Ontario can be found at www.ontario.ca/housing.