Three Levels of Government Announce Funding for Supportive Housing at the Madison

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwire - June 27, 2011) - The Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg today announced more than $1.2 million in funding for the Madison Memorial Lodge, an 88 bed housing project being renovated and transitioned to supportive housing by Siloam Mission.

The announcement was made today by the Honourable Kerri Irvin-Ross, Minister of Housing and Community Development, Rod Bruinooge, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, 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 Devi Sharma, Winnipeg City Councillor for Old Kildonan, on behalf of Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz.

"Madison Memorial Lodge is a direct result of the strong desire in the community to create housing and help those in need, said Irvin-Ross. A remarkable change takes place when we provide supports that help people stabilize their lives, gain confidence and independence and reconnect with their community. We know that supportive housing works and our government is working in partnership with our government partners to help deal with homelessness here in Winnipeg and across the province."

"The renovations and repairs planned for the Madison will provide more quality affordable housing for those at risk of homelessness here in Winnipeg, giving them the supports they need to get back on their feet," said MP Bruinooge. "Our government is proud to be a part of such an important and exciting announcement, one that will have a lasting effect on this community."

"The lodge will serve as a welcome haven to those in our City most in need of a supportive and safe place to call home," said Councillor Devi Sharma, on behalf of Mayor Sam Katz. "Over the years, the dedicated work of the Siloam Mission has made a strong impact in Winnipeg, and the opening of the Madison Memorial Lodge is yet another example of how the City of Winnipeg, along with our partners, are working together to assist vulnerable people in our community."

When complete, the Madison will provide 88 supportive housing beds for individuals who are experiencing homelessness or poverty who are working towards self-sufficient lifestyles. Siloam Mission purchased the building in April 2011 and is overseeing the renovations.

Originally built in 1941, the Madison has served as a nurses' residence, a rehab facility for returning soldiers in WWII, and is currently home to 75 residents with physical and intellectual disabilities. Siloam will work with existing tenants to coordinate the renovations, working floor by floor. Once renovated, Siloam Mission will start moving some of their own guests into the Madison as rooms become vacant. The project received more than $1.2 million in funding through the amended Canada-Manitoba Renovation Program Agreement.

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. As part of this investment, the renovation programs for low-income households were extended for two years. For Manitoba, this represents more than $11 million in federal funding for renovation programs off-reserve.

Through Manitoba Housing's Long-Term Housing Strategy, HOMEWorks!, the Province of Manitoba, with the financial assistance of the Government of Canada, is contributing $378 million over two years for housing initiatives in Winnipeg and across the Province. HOMEWorks! supports ALLAboard, Manitoba's Poverty Reduction strategy by increasing the supply of quality, affordable housing for low-income Manitobans. In 2009 the province committed to creating 1,500 new affordable housing units by 2014. As of March 31, 2011, the province had committed funding for 707 new affordable housing units. More information about HOMEWorks! is available at www.gov.mb.ca/housing.

An amendment to the Canada-Manitoba Affordable Housing Agreement, which included funding under Canada's Economic Action Plan, signed in May 2009, brought federal housing support of $88 million to the province. The Government of Manitoba is matching that commitment for a total of $176 million to assist those in housing need and, in collaboration with other levels of government and community partners, to make various types of affordable housing programs possible. In Manitoba, federal-provincial housing programs are delivered through the province's department of Housing and Community Development.

More information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government's plan to stimulate the economy and protect those hit hardest by the global recession, can be found at: www.actionplan.gc.ca. 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.

Since 2000, the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative – a partnership between Canada, Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg – has committed almost $185 million to repair, rehabilitate, or construct over 8400 housing units as well as assist those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The WHHI is a single-window office for community organizations to access information on government-funded housing and homelessness programs. For more information, visit www.whhi.ca.

The WHHI housing programs are funded by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Manitoba Housing, and the City of Winnipeg, and homelessness programs are funded through the Government of Canada's Homelessness Partnering Strategy.

Backgrounder

HOMEWorks!:

In April 2007, the Province of Manitoba unveiled HOUSING First, a four pillar, $188 million, low-income housing strategy including HOMEWorks! – a $104.5 million initiative to help provide affordable homes for low-income Manitobans in five areas that were identified by stakeholders to provide a stronger foundations for healthy families and communities. The priorities include: inner-city revitalization; older Manitobans; urban Aboriginals; northern Manitobans; and homeless Manitobans. For more information, please visit www.manitoba.ca/fs and select housing from the left hand side navigation.

Canada-wide Program Extensions:

In September 2008 the Government of Canada announced a $1.9-billion commitment for housing and homelessness, which extended the Affordable Housing Initiative and the renovation programs for low-income households for two years. In Manitoba, these initiatives are jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments through contributions totaling over $34 million for the following two years.

Canada's Economic Action Plan (CEAP) Canada - Manitoba:

The Government of Canada has allocated $79 million in Manitoba under Canada's Economic Action Plan as part of a two-year national investment of more than $2 billion to build new and renovate existing social housing in Canada. The province will also contribute $79 million for these initiatives over two years. For more information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, call 1-800-O Canada.

Canada Mortgage and Housing (CMHC):

To find out more about how the Government of Canada is working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan.

Homelessness Partnering Strategy:

The Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) is a unique community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness by providing direct support and funding to more than 60 communities across Canada. The HPS took effect April 1, 2007, with annual funding of $134.8 million for two years. Funding for housing and homelessness programs has been extended for another five years, until March 31, 2014.

For more information on the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, please visit: www.hrsdc.gc.ca/homelessness.