Joint Government Funding Will Bring New Affordable Housing to Milk River

MILK RIVER, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Dec. 17, 2013) - More affordable housing options will soon be available for seniors in Milk River thanks to an investment from the Governments of Canada and Alberta. Eighteen suites will be added to Prairie Rose Lodge and sixteen of the existing units will be renovated.

Jim Hillyer, Member of Parliament for Lethbridge, on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development), along with Bridget Pastoor, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Lethbridge-East, made the funding announcement today.

"Our Government is investing in affordable housing to help create jobs and improve the quality of life for seniors who need it most", said MP Hillyer. "This funding will help people in Milk River access safe and affordable housing that meets their needs. Our Government remains focused on four priorities, as outlined by the Prime Minister, that Canadians care most about: their families, the safety of our streets and communities, their pride in being a citizen of this country, and of course, their personal financial security".

"We continue to build Alberta through investments in rural lodges to give seniors the best possible care close to home as they age," said Bridget Pastoor, MLA for Lethbridge-East. "The room upgrades and additions to Prairie Rose Lodge will make a big difference for residents and will provide more seniors with a comfortable place to call home."

"With this joint announcement today we are extremely pleased with the support and contributions being made by the Province of Alberta and the Government of Canada towards the re-development and expansion of the Prairie Rose Lodge," said Tom Butler, Ridge Country Housing Board Chair. "The provision of additional and re-developed Seniors Lodge Accommodation units for Milk River and the surrounding area will benefit all of our aging population by providing them with more choices, better accommodation and greater services available in the community when they need them."

Ridge Country Housing provides seniors and low-income families, in Southern Alberta, proper housing and accommodations. The project received $4,760,000 in funding from the Governments of Canada and Alberta. This funding comes as a result of the $121 million Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) 2011-2014 Agreement between the Governments of Canada and Alberta. Alberta will use the funds under the agreement to create new and renovate existing affordable housing for households in need.

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 594,000 households living in existing social housing. In Alberta, this represents an estimated 37,250 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 continues 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. More than 146,769 households across Canada are no longer in housing need as a result of funding provided under the IAH from April 1, 2011 to June 30, 2013.

Through partnerships with federal and municipal governments, community groups, and the non-profit and private sectors, Alberta has made great strides to increase the supply of affordable housing across the province. Since 2007, the Government of Alberta has supported the development of 12,000 affordable housing units for homeless and lower-income Albertans through capital grant funding in 62 communities. The province exceeded its original goal of 11,000 units in September 2012. For more information on Alberta's housing support, visit http://municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/housing.cfm.

Ridge Country Housing's mission and vision is to be a growing, efficient, effective and financially responsible business that provides quality housing to our senior citizens and low-income families in need in our respective communities.

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.