Housing co-ops welcome investments for social housing in the Niagara Region
and Hamilton

ST. CATHARINES, ON, Aug. 12 /CNW Telbec/ - Today's announcement of important investments from three levels of government for social housing renovation and retrofit projects, including housing co-operatives, in Niagara Region and Hamilton was warmly welcomed by the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF Canada).

"We applaud both Ministers Finley and Bradley and Mayor McMullan, for coming to Commonwealth Co-operative Homes, a diverse and vibrant community in St. Catharines, to announce the important investments that have been made by their respective governments to help co-ops and other non-profit housing providers across Niagara Region and Hamilton to work on important renovations and repairs," said David Granovsky, Government Relations Co-ordinator for CHF Canada. "Besides providing much needed economic stimulus, these investments will help ensure that affordable community housing co-ops are preserved as a legacy for the long-term benefit of all Canadians and Ontarians."

"CHF Canada appreciates that each level of government accepts the virtue of reinvesting in Canada's existing social housing stock," said Harvey Cooper, Manager of Government Relations for CHF Canada's Ontario Region. "The massive demand for both the federal government's $1 billion Renovation and Retrofit Initiative (part of Canada's Economic Action Plan) and the Ontario government's $704 million Social Housing Renovation and Retrofit Program shows how ready co-ops are to renovate and restore their properties."

"Building on these investments will be a key priority for our sector. Another key goal will be for all levels of government to pull together and ensure that every Canadian has an affordable place to call home," said Patrick Newman, CHF Canada Director and Ontario Council member.

CHF Canada is the national voice of the Canadian co-operative housing movement. Its members include nearly 900 non-profit housing co-operatives and other organizations across Canada. More than a quarter of a million Canadians live in housing co-ops, in every province and territory.

For further information: David Granovsky, Government Relations Co-ordinator, 1-800-465-2752 ext. 222, or [phone] (cell), [email protected]; Harvey Cooper, Program Manager, Government Relations, Ontario Region, 1-800-268-2537 ext. 237, or [phone], (cell) [email protected]