Affordable Housing Being Built and Renovated in Barrie

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

Canada’s Economic Action Plan

BARRIE, ONTARIO, March 25, 2011 — The Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the County of Simcoe today announced more than $10.8 million for the construction and renovation of 2,084 housing units for low-income seniors, families and persons with disabilities in Barrie.

Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament for Barrie, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Honourable Aileen Carroll, Member of Provincial Parliament for Barrie, on behalf of the Honourable Rick Bartolucci, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, along with Cal Patterson, Warden of Simcoe County, and Jeff Lehman, Mayor of Barrie, made the announcement.

“Our Government is investing in affordable housing here in Barrie to help create jobs and improve the quality of life for those who need it most,” said MP Brown. “These initiatives will help people in our community access safe and affordable housing that meets their needs.”

“Ontario is committed to strengthening our social housing system,” said MPP Carroll. “As part of the government’s Open Ontario Plan, this social housing program has helped improve the quality of life for hundreds of Barrie residents. We will continue working to ensure that every Ontarian has access to a safe and affordable place to live.”

“As the service manager for affordable housing in this area, the County of Simcoe is committed to improving the lives of our residents and these funds will greatly assist in expanding what we can offer for seniors, families and people with disabilities,” stated Warden Cal Patterson. “By working co-operatively with all our community partners including the City of Barrie, we will be improving many lives in our community. This initiative is an excellent partnership between the federal, provincial and municipal levels of government.”

“These funds will help ensure that more residents have access to a safe, stable place to call home,” said Mayor Jeff Lehman. “While there remains much more work to be done, these funds will start to address what is a critical need in our community — safe and affordable housing for families and for seniors.”

Today’s announcement was made at the grand opening of 125 Bayfield Street in Barrie, a 43-unit building which received more than $3 million from the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program for the construction of new housing units for people with disabilities. In addition, more than $4 million was provided through the Social Housing Renovation and Retrofit Program to renovate 2,010 existing social housing units, and more than $3.72 million was provided through the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program for the construction of 31 new housing units at Stanley Heights, another affordable housing project in Barrie

The Government of Canada wants to ensure that Canadians on fixed incomes can live with independence and dignity and remain in their communities, close to family and friends. Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides $475 million, over two years; to build new rental housing for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities, and $850 million to provinces and territories over two years for the renovation and retrofit of existing provincially/territorially administered social housing. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for the construction of new and the renovation of existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in low-cost loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada’s commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless. As part of this commitment the Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI) was extended for two years, bringing the total federal investment in housing under the AHI to $1.25 billion since its inception.

In 2009, Ontario allocated a combined federal and provincial investment of $704 million for the renovation of social housing, and $540 million for the creation of new affordable housing. The provincial investment is part of the Open Ontario plan, and is creating an estimated 23,000 jobs, while strengthening local economies across the province. Ontario’s investment has resulted in the repair of more than 185,000 social housing units, while creating more than 6,400 new affordable housing units for low-income families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. As well, the province has made available $70 million for the use of renewable energy technologies to improve energy efficiency in social housing as part of its Green Energy Strategy.

Affordable housing is a key component of Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. Download a copy of the Government of Ontario’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy. To find out more about affordable housing in Ontario, visit www.ontario.ca/housing.

More information on this and other measures in Canada’s Economic Action Plan can be found at www.actionplan.gc.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.

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

Article source: http://www.cmhc.ca/en/corp/nero/nere/2011/2011-03-25-1030.cfm

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