New Affordable Housing for Seniors Opens in Edmonton

EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - April 29, 2014) - The Governments of Canada and Alberta, along with the City of Edmonton, celebrated the official opening today of Renaissance Tower. This 90-unity facility, owned by the Métis Capital Housing Corporation in Edmonton's inner city, is targeted at meeting the needs of Aboriginal people, seniors and people with disabilities. Thirty of the suites are barrier-free and include features that have been specially designed for the building.

Scott Armstrong, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development, on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development), along with Dave Quest, Associate Minister of Seniors and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Strathcona-Sherwood Park, attended the opening.

"Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, our Government has taken concrete action to create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity," said Parliamentary Secretary Armstrong. "Funding projects like Renaissance Tower helps to improve the overall housing conditions for seniors and persons with disabilities in Edmonton and stimulates the local economy and creates jobs."

"Making sure vulnerable Albertans can obtain affordable housing is a top priority for our government, which has proudly supported the Boyle Renaissance development," said Greg Weadick, Acting Minister of Municipal Affairs. "The completion of these facilities is a key milestone in the Quarters Downtown revitalization that helps meet the community's need for housing and a wide range of programs and services. We thank the federal government, the Métis Capital Housing Corporation, the City of Edmonton, the Boyle Street Community League and all other partners for their contribution to Boyle Renaissance Tower."

"We are grateful to all three levels of government for their confidence and support in helping this project to fruition. This concept, featuring state-of-the-art features in our 30 disabled resident suites would not have been possible with the financial support of the governments and the dedication and inspiration of Mike Holmes, as our project manager and creative mind behind so many of the features," said Darlene Lennie, CEO of Métis Capital Housing Corporation.

The seven-floor building features 90 affordable, self-contained units for seniors, 30 of which are barrier-free. Approximately 10,000 sq. feet of ground-floor commercial space links into a revitalized streetscape and services. In addition, residents have access to a green roof providing city views and common spaces. The building features a shared heat and power systems to reduce energy consumption.

The Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta jointly contributed more than $8.3 million through Canada's Economic Action Plan - Housing for Low-Income Seniors and Housing for Persons with Disabilities. The City of Edmonton and Métis Capital Housing Corporation each contributed $6 million to the project.

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 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 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.

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 celebrated achieving and exceeding its original goal of 11,000 units by 2012 in September. For more information on Alberta's housing support, visit www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/housing.cfm.

The Métis Capital Housing Corporation is a non-profit corporation providing affordable, adequate and appropriate rental housing for low and moderate income Métis (and other Aboriginal) families in the urban centres of Alberta. Using fair, equitable and innovative practices in the delivery of quality services, they seek to improve the housing conditions of Métis and Aboriginal communities by offering an alternative to mainstream housing.

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.