New affordable homes on the way for brain injury survivors and their families

Logo: Government of Canada (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)

Logo: Government of British Columbia (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)

CAMPBELL RIVER, BC, April 15, 2019 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and British Columbia are partnering with the Campbell River Head Injury Support Society (CRHISS) to build new affordable homes for people with who have suffered a brain injury.

Today in Campbell River, Adam Vaughan, MP for Spadina–Fort York, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with Ronna-Rae Leonard, Member of the MLA for Courtenay–Comox, on behalf of the Honourable Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, announced funding commitments for construciton of a four-storey, 27-unit residential project, which will also include market-rate rentals.

Called Linda's Place, the new buidling will have a mix of studio, and one- to three-bedroom units with one-third of the homes rented at affordable rates specifically for people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. The remaining 18 units will be rented at market rates.

Linda's Place will be owned and operated by the Campbell River Head Injury Support Society, a non-profit organization providing assistance to traumatic brain injury survivors and their familes for the past 20 years in Campbell River. CRHISS provides education, support, advocacy and fellowship to brain injury survivors, their caregivers and families.

Today's announcement builds on the work that the Government of Canada has done to support Canadians with disablities. Bill C-81, the proposed Accessible Canada Act, currently making its way through the Senate, is another concrete step that the Government of Canada is taking to break down barriers to accessibility. This proposed piece of legislation is meant to promote broad organizational and cultural change across Canada, while proactively identifying, removing and preventing barriers to the realization of a truly accessible Canada.

These homes are part of the Province of British Columbia's 10-year housing plan, which will build 114,000 affordable market rental, non-profit, supported social housing and owner-purchase homes over the next 10 years through partnerships with governments, First Nations, non-profits, co-ops, the private sector, and community groups.

Quotes:

"Our Government's investment in affordable housing here in Campbell River will soon help to improve the quality of life of individuals recovering from traumatic brain injuries. Partnering with organizations like Campbell River Head Injury Support Society allows us to address gaps in the housing system to better serve vulnerable Canadians and their families. Through creative, mixed-market projects like Linda's Place, we're creating sustainable, long-term solutions to housing affordability." – Adam Vaughan, Member of Parliament for Spadina–Fort York

"For too long, seniors, families and people with disabilities have been struggling to find safe homes they can afford. These homes will provide security and peace of mind for brain injury survivors and their families, something that every British Columbian deserves. Our government will continue to work hard to create the partnerships needed to build homes people can afford in every corner of the province." – Ronna-Rae Leonard, Member of the MLA for Courtenay–Comox

"The society is very excited for our clients and the community to be able to offer more affordable units in Campbell River. This is just one more example of how collaboration can have a strong positive effect in a community and how, together, we can take huge steps in improving the lives of individuals with brain injuries." – Shelley Howard, Executive Director, Campbell River Head Injury Support Society

Quick facts:

• The Government of Canada, through CMHC, is providing $830,000 towards Linda's Place under the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF).
• The Government of British Columbia, through BC Housing, is contributing approximately $5 million for the project.
• Linda's Place will be located approximately 0.25 kilometres south of the downtown commercial core close to a hospital and public transit, shopping stores, schools and recreational amenities.
• CRHISS will offer programs and support services to tenants on a part-time basis.
• The project will achieve a 25% reduction in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions when compared to the current National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB 2015).
• Through the NHCF, the largest program of its kind in Canadian history, the Government of Canada will work with partners to build up to 60,000 new affordable homes and repair up to 240,000 existing affordable and community homes over the next 10 years.
• Investments are also planned in the NHCF to create or repair at least 4,000 shelter spaces for victims of family violence and create at least 7,000 new affordable housing units for seniors and 2,400 new affordable housing units for people with developmental disabilities.
• Under the Investing in Canada plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• B.C. Budget 2018 launched the largest investment in housing affordability in the province's history—more than $7 billion over 10 years.
• These investments are part of the Province's 10-year housing plan to tackle the housing crisis by increasing supply, curbing demand, bringing in protections for renters and tackling fraud in B.C.'s real estate market.

Associated links:

• As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. For more information, visit our website or follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
• To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit www.placetocallhome.ca.
• To find out what the Province is doing to improve housing affordability, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/bc-government-addressing-housing-affordability-challenges
• Read Homes for B.C., government's 30-point plan to address housing affordability for British Columbians: bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2018/homesbc/2018_Homes_For_BC.pdf
• To find out more about Campbell River Head Injury Support Society, visit www.crhead.ca.

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Media contacts: Valérie Glazer, Press secretary, Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, 613-220-1841, [email protected]; Gabriel Teo, Public Affairs, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 604-737-4137, [email protected]; Melanie Kilpatrick, Ministry of Municipal Affairs, 778 698-9176; Rajvir Rao, BC Housing, 604 456-8917

Related Links

www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca