Williamsburg celebrates new affordable housing

WILLIAMSBURG, ON, Nov. 20 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada , the Government of Ontario, and the community of Williamsburg today celebrated the opening of 20 new affordable rental units. This project is supported by more than $1.4 million in funding through the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program.

Guy Lauzon , Member of Parliament for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley , Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; Jim Brownell , Member of Provincial Parliament for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry on behalf of the Honourable Jim Watson , Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Mayor Bob Kilger , City of Cornwall; Mayor Robert Gillard , Township of South Dundas; and housing sponsors James Kooistra and Trevor Tolley attended the ceremony.

"The Government of Canada is committed to making affordable housing available in Ontario and across Canada for those who need it the most," said MP Lauzon. "These new rental units in Williamsburg will provide access to suitable, affordable housing for low-income seniors and individuals with special needs."

"These 20 units will have a positive impact on the people who will call them home and the community as a whole," said MPP Brownell. "I would like to congratulate the developers and community groups for making these projects a reality."

The 20-unit project, sponsored by Williamsburg Non-Profit Housing, will be occupied by low-income seniors and individuals with special needs.

The federal and provincial allocations to the project were complemented by over $153,000 in municipal incentives.

"I am pleased that new federal and provincial funding for affordable housing has made these 20 townhouses a reality," said Mayor Robert Gillard . "I thank the Service Manager and Williamsburg Non-Profit Housing Corporation for all their work and dedication to help so many individuals benefit from this new housing service. Patience and persistence pays off."

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.

Last fall, 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 42 totaling over $83 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.

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

For further information: Michelle Bakos, Office of Minister Finley, [phone]; Debora Daigle, City of Cornwall, [phone] ext. 3208; Adam Grachnik, Office of Minister Watson, [phone]; Beth Bailey, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, [phone]