Kingston celebrates new affordable housing

KINGSTON, ON, Oct. 23 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada , the Government of Ontario, and the City of Kingston today celebrated the official opening of two new affordable housing projects and the start of construction of another. The projects are supported by more than $7.5 million in funding under the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program and will provide 164 affordable housing units.

Ed Komarnicki, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Diane Finley , Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and to the Minister of Labour; John Gerretsen, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kingston and The Islands and Minister of the Environment, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Watson , Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; and Harvey Rosen , Mayor of the City of Kingston, attended the event.

"The Government of Canada is helping make affordable housing available in Kingston and across Canada for those who need it most," said Parliamentary Secretary Ed Komarnicki. "These new apartments provide more rental options for individuals and families in need of suitable, affordable housing. This is critical to the economic and social well-being of our Kingston community."

"Our government is committed to developing better ways to meet the housing needs of Ontario's vulnerable," said Minister Gerretsen. "The benefits of projects like these ripple beyond the people who live here - our entire community reaps the rewards of new, safe and sustainable housing."

Today's announcement recognized three affordable housing projects in Kingston funded under the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program:

    
    -   The official opening of a 93-unit building sponsored by R. Paul
        Martin Construction. The project received more than $2 million from
        the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program. The building will be
        occupied by individuals and families living on low and moderate
        income.

    -   The official opening of 24 units sponsored by Kingston Home Base Non
        - Profit Housing Inc. The project received $1.7 million from the
        Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program and will be occupied by
        individuals with special needs and living on low income.

    -   The start of construction of 47 units sponsored by Frontenac
        Community Mental Health Services. The project received more than
        $3.8 million from the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program. The
        building will be occupied by low income individuals with special
        needs.
    

The federal and provincial allocations to the projects were complemented by about $660,000 in municipal grants and 67 units will receive ongoing financial assistance through the municipally funded rent supplement program.

"The City of Kingston is pleased to continue to work with our Federal/Provincial partners in the creation of new, safe, secure and affordable housing units," said Mayor Harvey Rosen . "On behalf of the City of Kingston, I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the staff and Board members of Home Base Housing, Frontenac Community Mental Health Services and Mr. Paul Martin , on the occasion of the official opening of their affordable housing communities. Through their efforts, 164 residents have been able to find a new and permanent place to call home."

The Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement, signed in 2005, 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 the next 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 in new and existing social housing and lending of up to another $2 billion 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.

Ontario is moving quickly to implement this additional funding, which increases the number of "quick start" projects to 39, totaling over $76.5 million and which will improve access to affordable housing for low-income families, seniors and persons with disabilities. It will also create jobs and strengthen local economies. To find out more about affordable housing in Ontario, visit www.mah.gov.on.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. For more information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, call 1-800-O Canada or visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

    
    Disponible en français

    For more information visit: http://www.cmhc.ca
                                www.ontario.ca/housing
    

For further information: Michelle Bakos, Office of Minister Finley, [phone]; Beth Bailey, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, [phone]; Adam Grachnik, Office of Minister Watson, [phone]; Mary McIntyre, City of Kingston, [phone] ext. 4948