Governments of Canada and Ontario CelebrateNew Affordable Housing in Vaughan
Posted by: Toronto Real Estate Admin / Category: News Bulletin
VAUGHAN, ON, September 14, 2012 — The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and The Regional Municipality of York celebrated the official opening of Reena Community Residence, a 60-unitaffordable housing project in Vaughan. The project is supported by $4.2 million in federal and provincial funding through the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program.
The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Labour on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC); Reza Moridi, Member of Provincial Parliament for Richmond Hill, on behalf of the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Bill Fisch, York Regional Chair and CEO; and Maurizio Bevilacqua, Mayor of the City of Vaughan, made the announcement.
“The Reena Community Residence in Vaughan is a concrete example of how Harper’s Government is committed to making communities stronger through affordable housing projects”, said Minister Raitt. “The federal investment of almost $1.6 million helped to create new jobs and stimulated the local economy, while providing access to safe, affordable homes for those who need it most, including seniors and families.”
“The McGuinty government is pleased to work with Reena in York Region to support the local community and improve the quality of life for these new residents,” said MPP Reza Moridi. “This project will help to achieve our government’s goal of ensuring all Ontarians have a safe and affordable place to call home and provide up to 150 jobs for Ontario’s workforce, helping to strengthen the economy.”
“It is critical that residents have access to the supports needed to live and thrive in the community,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. “This project is a testament to our commitment to helping residents and families find housing to meet their unique needs.”
“Reena Community Residence is a welcome addition to the City of Vaughan,” said City of Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. “These units fulfill an important need in our community, by providing innovative supports and outreach programs for residents who need it most.”
Reena Community Residence, a 60-unit building located at 49 Lebovic Campus Drive South in Vaughan received $4.2 million through a joint investment under the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement and $2.6 million from the Ministry of Community and Social Services. The federal and provincial funding is complemented by $1.1 million in municipal financial incentives.
Reena is a non-profit social service agency dedicated to the integration and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities into the community. In addition to residential supports, Reena provides educational and recreational programming as well as support programs to enhance life and work skills of developmentally disabled individuals.
“The Reena Community Residence is a shining example of how community agencies, working closely with government, can achieve an accepting and inclusive community,” said Sandy Keshen, President and CEO of Reena. “The new residence enables Reena to expand its commitment to integrate individuals with a disability into the community within the framework of Jewish culture and values.”
The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest more than $2 billion in housing this year. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will be spent in support of almost 605,000 households living in existing social housing. In Ontario, this represents some 237,750 households. These investments are improving the quality of life for low-income Canadians and households living in existing social housing, including individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal people.
Ontario continues to build new affordable housing and repair existing units for Ontarians with housing needs. Since 2009, the provincial government has provided nearly $183 million to build new rental housing units for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. Ontario’s overall investment of over $2.5 billion has translated into the construction and repair of more than 270,000 housing units and the provision of 35,000 rent supplements for Ontario families on fixed incomes. The province’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy sets a strong foundation for a more efficient, accessible affordable housing system in Ontario.
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.
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.
Media contacts:
Beth Bailey
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
416-218-3355
Kelly Baker
Office of Minister Wynne
416- 585-6842
Marian Ngo
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Lisa Sposito
The Regional Municipality of York
905-830-4444, ext.: 4106
Article source: http://www.cmhc.ca/en/corp/nero/nere/2012/2012-09-14-1030.cfm
Tags: Toronto House, Toronto Housing, Toronto Realtor