Renovation Project for Youth Officially Opens in Yorkton

Released on October 14, 2016

Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with Minister Responsible for Rural and Remote Health and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Yorkton Greg Ottenbreit, on behalf of Social Services Minister and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) Tina Beaudry-Mellor, and YTHY Executive Director Peg Beaton, made the announcement today.

“The Government of Canada is committed to helping young people across the country reach their full potential,” said Duclos.  “Our investments help to create more affordable housing, jobs and better opportunities for young people.  Today’s announcement is about providing access to quality and affordable housing so that our youth have every chance to succeed.”

“Funding renovation projects like this one not only helps revitalize buildings, it also creates an opportunity to provide safe, quality homes for our most vulnerable citizens,” Ottenbreit said.  “This is just one more project that will help us reach our goal to reduce poverty and to improve the quality of life of the young people who will live here, beginning with affordable housing.  Our government is pleased to work with our partners to make this happen and further our plan to keep Saskatchewan strong.”

“Safe affordable housing allows young people to pursue both their educational and work related goals,” City of Yorkton Mayor Bob Maloney said.  “The City of Yorkton applauds both the Provincial and Federal Governments on the completion of this project.”

“After three years of having youth aged 16 and 17 in the peer homes and having them leave at 18 to find their way without supports, we identified the need for a second stage of housing,” Beaton said.  “By working with the Federal and Provincial Governments, we have been able to secure what we call a ‘rooming home’ with five rooms for females and five rooms for males 18 and over.  With the assistance of our Independent Living Co-ordinator, funded by the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, these young people will have the supports they need to transition to complete independence and become valuable members of our community.”

Quick facts:
• The project consists of the acquisition and renovation of a 10-bedroom group home.  The size of the home is 3,173 square feet (294.7 square metres) over one level.  The Federal and Provincial Governments, through CMHC and SHC, are jointly contributing $375,000 toward the 10-unit project under the Canada-Saskatchewan 2016 Social Infrastructure Fund (SIF) Agreement through the 2016-2018 SIF Allocation Increase.
• An additional $161,000 in funding will be provided by YTHY in the form of mortgage financing.
• YTHY is a non-profit organization established in 2008 to address the safety, stability, life-skills training, and support of at-risk youth aged 16 to 30.  These services include life-skills training, cooking, housekeeping and personal development skills such as conflict resolution and accepting responsibility for individual actions. YTHY refers youth to other service providers in the community as required.
• This investment supports the Saskatchewan Poverty Reduction Strategy goal of ensuring Saskatchewan people have affordable, safe, secure and stable housing.

Associated links:
• CMHC has been helping Canadians meet their housing needs for more than 70 years.  As Canada's authority on housing, 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 Canadian governments, consumers and the housing industry.  Prudent risk management, strong corporate governance and transparency are cornerstones of our operations.  For more information, please call 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca.
• In October 2012, the Government of Saskatchewan released the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth: Vision 2020 and Beyond, which sets out the government’s vision for a province of 1.2 million people by 2020.  The plan identifies principles, goals and actions to ensure Saskatchewan is capturing the opportunities and meeting the challenges of a growing province.  Since 2007, the Government of Saskatchewan has invested almost $700 million to develop and repair more than 14,600 homes around the province.
• Canadians are invited to help shape the National Housing Strategy by joining the conversation on www.LetsTalkHousing.  Your ideas will help shape the future of housing in Canada.

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• Follow CMHC on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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For more information, contact:

Elisabeth Lefrancois
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Vancouver
Phone: 604-737-4072
Email: elefranc@cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Leya Moore
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3610
Email: leya.moore@gov.sk.ca