SASKATOON, SK, Aug. 2, 2024
/CNW/ - Today, the federal government announced more than
$36 million in contributions and
low-cost loans through the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) to help
build and repair 788 affordable homes in Saskatchewan.
The announcement was made by the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister
of Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and
CanNor on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.
It took place at 727 Hart Road in Saskatoon which received $23.6 million to build 73 new homes and will be
operated by Camponi Housing Corp. and SaskNative Rental Inc. The
project will create a self-contained community specifically
tailored for Métis and First Nations Peoples. These affordable,
energy-efficient townhouses will have 1 to 4-bedroom units. They
will offer on-site social, medical, and financial support services.
Additionally, the location provides quick access to major highways,
urban areas with amenities, and is near public transit.
Also announced today were agreements between the federal
government and Buffalo River Dene Nation, the City of Humboldt, the Town of Moosomin, and the Town of Outlook to
fast track a combined total of over 140 housing units over the next
three years through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). This work
will help spur the construction of more than 560 homes over the
next decade.
These agreements will provide a combined total of nearly
$5.5 million to eliminate barriers to
building the housing we need, faster across these four
communities.
HAF is helping cut red tape and fast track at least 100,000
permitted new homes over the first three years, which communities
estimate will lead to the creation of over 750,000 permitted new
homes for people across Canada
over the next decade. It asks for innovative action plans from
local governments, and once approved, provides upfront funding to
ensure the timely building of new homes, as well as additional
funds upon delivering results. Local governments are encouraged to
think big and be bold in their approaches, which could include
accelerating project timelines, allowing increased housing density,
and encouraging affordable housing units.
In Budget 2024, the federal government committed an additional
$400 million to incentivize more
local governments to fast-track home construction, resulting in an
additional 12,000 new homes permitted over the next four years.
The Government of Canada is
making life more affordable for Canadians – and housing is key to
our work. We will continue to work with provincial, territorial,
and municipal governments, as well as Indigenous partners, to keep
building more homes for Canadians, faster.
A detailed list of all the projects that received funding under
the AHF and HAF is provided in an appendix to this release.
Quotes:
"Everyone deserves a place to call their own and through the
National Housing Strategy's Affordable Housing Fund and Housing
Accelerator Fund, we're helping make that a reality for Canadians.
We will keep investing in housing projects like the ones announced
today, and working with partners across the country, to end the
housing crisis." – The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister
of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
"Here in Saskatchewan and
across the country, we're tackling the housing crisis by investing
in affordable housing and partnering with local communities to make
construction easier. By working together, we're making sure every
Canadian has an affordable place they can call home."
– The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern
Affairs and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNor
Quick facts:
- The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) investment announced
today are helping create a total of 73 new homes and is leading to
the repairs of 715 homes.
- AHF provides funding through low-interest and/or
forgivable loans or contributions to help build new affordable
homes and renovate and repair existing, affordable and community
housing.
- Through the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, the government
announced an additional $1 billion
for the Affordable Housing Fund, bringing the total funding to over
$14 billion. To further support
non-profit, co-operative, and public housing providers and respond
to the needs of those most impacted by the housing crisis, Budget
2024 committed an additional $1
billion to the fund.
- This program under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) gives
priority to projects that help people who need it most, including
women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous
peoples, people living with disabilities, those with mental health
or addiction issues, veterans, and young adults.
- NHS is an $82+ billion plan to give more Canadians a place to
call home. Progress on programs and initiatives are updated
quarterly at www.placetocallhome.ca. The Housing Funding
Initiatives Map shows affordable housing projects that have been
developed..
- As of March 2024, the federal
government has committed $50.97
billion through the NHS to support the creation of over
146,000 units and the repair of over 286,000 units.
- Launched in March 2023, the
Housing Accelerator Fund is a $4.4
billion initiative under the NHS that will run until
2027-28. The first round of funding totalled $4 billion, and Budget 2024 added an additional
$ 400 million to this program.
- Please visit the Housing Accelerator Fund website for more
details.
- In the process to allocate the additional funding received
through Budget 2024, the Government of Canada will negotiate an agreement with
Quebec that will further
accelerate housing and provide more funding for affordable housing
in the province.
- On April 12, 2024, the federal
government released Solving the housing crisis: Canada's Housing Plan, supported by new
investments proposed in Budget 2024.
- To support the Government's work to grow housing supply and
address the need for more affordable and rental homes, CMHC is
implementing the Frequent Builder framework.
- The Frequent Builder framework will help expedite applications
for the Affordable Housing Fund and the Apartment Construction Loan
Program. The Frequent Builder status is given to existing
housing providers with a proven track record of building
multi-residential units. Different criteria apply to Governments,
non-profit and for-profit organizations to qualify for Frequent
Builder status.
- Frequent Builders may receive benefits such as priority
treatment, a streamlined process through intake, underwriting and
approval stages, underwriting and advancing flexibilities, as well
as the possibility of funding commitments for future years which
will allow funding predictability and better planning for their
pipeline of projects.
Additional Information:
- Visit Canada.ca/housing for the most requested Government of
Canada housing information.
- 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. CMHC's aim
is that everyone in Canada has a
home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more
information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and
Facebook.
- To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, please
visit www.placetocallhome.ca.
Appendix 1: Projects receiving funding under AHF
Project
|
Region/City
|
Funding
|
Units
|
UI560 Affordable
Renovations
|
Prince
Albert
|
$2,583,408
|
50
|
Hart Road
Affordable
Housing
|
Saskatoon
|
$23,600,322
|
73
|
Regina
Transition
House
|
Regina
|
$40,052
|
27
|
CTK
Revitalization
Project
|
Sintaluta
|
$930,000
|
5
|
Shelter
|
Melfort
|
$371,420
|
21
|
Ahtahkakoop Cree
Nation Repairs
|
Shell Lake
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Makwa
Sahgaiehcan
First Nation Repairs
|
Loon Lake
235
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Montreal Lake
Repairs
|
Montreal Lake
106
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Red Earth Cree
Nation
Repairs
|
Red Earth 29
|
$30,000
|
10
|
Flying Dust First
Nation
Repairs 2
|
Meadow Lake
105A
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Cumberland House
Cree
Nation Repairs 2
|
Cumberland House Cree
Nation 20
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Lac La Ronge
Repairs
|
La Ronge
|
$150,000
|
10
|
One Arrow First
Nation
Repairs
|
One Arrow 95
|
$225,000
|
15
|
Cowessess First
Nation
Repairs 2
|
Cowessess 73
|
$360,000
|
24
|
Yellow Quill First
Nation
Repairs
|
Yellow Quill
90-9
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Saulteaux First
Nation
Repairs
|
Cochin
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Pelican Lake
First
Nation Repairs
|
Leoville
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Ministikwan Lake
Cree
Nation Repairs 2
|
Island Lake
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Muskoday First
Nation
Repairs
|
Muskoday First
Nation
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Mosquito, Grizzly
Bear's
Head, Lean Man First
Nations Repairs
|
Rosemount No.
378
|
$150,000
|
15
|
Standing Buffalo
First
Nation Repairs
|
Fort
Qu'Appelle
|
$300,000
|
20
|
Mistawasis
Nêhiyawak
Repairs 2
|
Leask
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Zagime
Anishinabek
First Nation repairs
|
Grenfell
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Onion Lake Cree
Nation
Repairs 2
|
Onion Lake
119-1
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Whitecap Dakota
First
Nation repairs
|
Whitecap
|
$210,000
|
14
|
White Bear
repairs
|
White Bear
70
|
$300,000
|
20
|
Canoe Lake Cree
First
Nation Repairs 2
|
Canoe Lake
165
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Red Pheasant
repairs
|
Red Pheasant
108
|
$600,000
|
40
|
Sturgeon Lake
First
Nation repairs
|
Sturgeon Lake
101
|
$495,000
|
47
|
Kawacatoose
First
Nation Repairs
|
Raymore
|
$165,000
|
11
|
Star Blanket Cree
Nation
Repairs
|
Balcarres
|
$165,000
|
11
|
Muskeg Lake Cree
Nation #102 Repair
|
Muskeg Lake Cree Nation
102
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Red Pheasant
Repairs
|
Red Pheasant
108
|
$75,000
|
5
|
Poundmaker Cree
Nation Repairs
|
Cut Knife
|
$105,000
|
7
|
Keeseekoose
Repairs
|
Kamsack
|
$105,000
|
7
|
Ochapowace First
Nation repairs
|
Ochapowace
71
|
$150,000
|
10
|
White Bear First
Nation Repairs
|
Carlyle
|
$165,000
|
11
|
Peter Ballantyne
Cree
Nation Repairs
|
Prince
Albert
|
$255,000
|
17
|
Piapot First
Nation
Repairs
|
Piapot 75
|
$105,000
|
7
|
Cote First
Nation
Repairs
|
Kamsack
|
$105,000
|
7
|
Fond du Lac
Repairs
|
Fond du Lac
227
|
$75,000
|
5
|
Flying Dust First
Nation
Repairs
|
Meadow Lake
105A
|
$105,000
|
7
|
Cowessess
Repairs
|
Cowessess 73
|
$120,000
|
8
|
Big Island Lake
Cree
Nation Repair
|
Big Island Lake Cree
Territory
|
$120,000
|
8
|
Ahtahkakoop
Repair
|
Ahtahkakoop
104
|
$120,000
|
8
|
Cumberland House
Cree
Nation Repairs
|
Cumberland House Cree
Nation 20
|
$120,000
|
8
|
Canoe Lake Cree
First
Nation Repairs
|
Canoe Lake
165
|
$120,000
|
8
|
Waterhen Lake
First
Nation repairs
|
Waterhen 130
|
$135,000
|
9
|
Ministikwan Lake
Cree
Nation Repairs
|
Ministikwan
161
|
$225,000
|
15
|
Mistawasis
Nehiyawak
Repairs
|
Leask
|
$180,000
|
12
|
George Gordon
First
Nation Repairs
|
Punnichy
|
$300,000
|
20
|
Onion Lake Cree
Nation
- Indigenous Repair
|
Onion Lake
119-1
|
$255,000
|
17
|
Thunderchild
First
Nation Repairs - 29 units
|
Thunderchild First
Nation
|
$435,000
|
29
|
|
Total
|
$36,300,201.80
|
788
|
Appendix 2: Communities receiving funding under HAF
Community
|
Funding
|
Expected units
over 3 years
|
Expected units
over 10 years
|
Buffalo River Dene
Nation,
SK
|
$1,298,000
|
22
|
35
|
City of Humboldt,
SK
|
$2,298,000
|
63
|
340
|
Town of Moosomin,
SK
|
$992,000
|
36
|
124
|
Town of Outlook,
SK
|
$907,000
|
23
|
69
|
Total:
|
$5,495,000.00
|
144
|
568
|
SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)