Community Forum Showcases New Approaches for Affordable Housing

Posted by: Toronto Real Estate Admin / Category: News Bulletin, Toronto Real Estate

Canada, Elgin, St Thomas

ST. THOMAS, ONTARIO, November 9, 2010 — Participants at a housing forum held today explored new approaches to create affordable and supportive housing to improve the quality of life for St. Thomas and Elgin County residents.

Affordable housing developers, community agencies, support service providers and community leaders attending the St. Thomas – Elgin Affordable Housing Forum heard community-based housing success stories and discussed affordable housing alternatives. The event also celebrated the accomplishments of local affordable housing developers.

“Forums like this one are an excellent opportunity to meet community partners to share ideas and best practices,” said Joe Preston, Member of Parliament for Elgin – Middlesex – London, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). “By working cooperatively we can help ensure Canadians have a safe, affordable place to call home.”

The City of St. Thomas, Elgin County and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) organized the half-day forum to showcase home-grown partnerships for affordable and supportive housing that have proven successful in St. Thomas and other Ontario communities.

“Through strong partnerships between the City, the County, community service providers and builders, 122 new units of affordable housing have been provided over the past five years,” said Elgin County Acting Warden Graham Warwick. “This forum is an opportunity to not only showcase past successes, but to consider how to meet future needs.”

Forum speakers presented home-grown partnerships that have addressed housing needs for low-income families and individuals, offered affordable housing alternatives to residents wishing to remain in their communities, adopted a “housing first” approach to help people move from the street directly into homes, and provided supportive housing for a variety of resident needs.

“Communities working together is what it’s all about. This forum brings together housing providers, developers, community agencies, support service providers, and others to see how we can all work together to meet the affordable housing needs of the whole community,” said St. Thomas Mayor Cliff Barwick.

Throughout the event, developers and non-profit organizations shared real life examples and best practices.

“As a builder and landlord, I see the positive effects of modest, affordable housing on people’s lives in the community, especially seniors who are on fixed incomes. Working with the three levels of government has made building affordable housing possible in the community,” said Nick Ostojic, Novi Construction.

The forum also featured a look at the housing needs and opportunities in St. Thomas – Elgin based on findings from local housing and homelessness studies.

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Joe Preston, MP for Elgin – Middlesex – London, offers greetings on behalf of the federal government and CMHC at the St. Thomas — Elgin Affordable Housing Forum.
Joe Preston, MP for Elgin – Middlesex – London, offers greetings on behalf of the federal government and CMHC at the St. Thomas – Elgin Affordable Housing Forum.

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Article source: http://www.cmhc.ca/en/corp/nero/nere/2010/2010-11-09-0900.cfm

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