New Affordable Housing Project Opens in Moose Jaw

Released on September 25, 2017

The Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan, along with Moose Jaw Non-Profit Housing Corporation (MJNP) officially opened Wakamow Place II, a new 12-unit affordable rental housing project for individuals with complex needs.

The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Greg Lawrence, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Moose Jaw Wakamow, on behalf of the Honourable Paul Merriman, Minister of Social Services and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC), and His Worship Fraser Tolmie, Mayor of the City of Moose Jaw, made the announcement today.

“Through investments in affordable housing, our Government is providing assistance to those who need it most here in Moose Jaw and in all corners of the country,” Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness said.  “We are committed to making communities stronger, and projects like these give residents the ability to live more fulfilling and engaged lives. The whole community benefits.”

“Our Government is pleased to work with our federal and municipal partners, as well as the Moose Jaw Non Profit Housing Corporation, to help individuals actively recovering from mental illness and/or addictions by providing 12 safe, stable and affordable homes with the supports they require,” Greg Lawrence, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Moose Jaw Wakamow, on behalf of the Honourable Paul Merriman, Minister of Social Services and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation said. “Our goal is to keep Saskatchewan strong, and together with our partners, we are continuing to achieve this vision. Most importantly, we are responding to those in greatest housing need and helping them to move forward.”

“The City of Moose Jaw is heartened by the opening of Wakamow Place II. We recognize the need for affordable, supportive housing to aid the recovery of those with complex issues, and are proud to have played a role in its construction,” City of Moose Jaw Mayor Fraser Tolmie said.  “We thank the federal and provincial governments, along with the Moose Jaw Non-Profit Housing Corporation, for their significant contributions to this facility in our city.”

“Moose Jaw Non-Profit Housing Corporation has dreamed of providing second-stage housing since the inception of the first phase of the Wakamow project,” Operations Manager, Moose Jaw Non Profit Housing Corporation Paul Wilder said.  “The hope was to have a place to graduate those with cognitive difficulty who have stabilized their situation and may still need supports, just not 24 hours a day. The supports are next door, and available whenever needed. This dream has now come true. The partnerships we have with Moose Jaw Thunder Creek Rehabilitation and Five Hills Heath Region to provide the supports are second to none. All this wouldn’t have been possible without the funds provided through the Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan. Thank you for making this possible and for ensuring successful housing outcomes – independence with supports – for the future of affordable housing clients.”

Quick facts:

• Wakamow Place II project consists of a 12-unit, three-storey building at 244 Manitoba Street East in Moose Jaw. It’s one bedroom units average 510 square feet (47.4 square metres). The project is adjacent to another MJNP development, Wakamow Place. The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan, through CMHC and SHC, jointly contributed approximately $1.3 million towards this development under the Canada-Saskatchewan Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) 2014-2019 Agreement.
• Approximately $459,000 in funding was provided by MJNP in the form of mortgage financing. The City of Moose Jaw contributed $112,500 through cash and land equity.
• The project is a collaboration between MJNP and Thunder Creek Rehabilitation Association Inc., which will provide support services to assist tenants on their path to recovery.  
• This investment supports the Saskatchewan Poverty Reduction Strategy goal of ensuring Saskatchewan people have affordable, safe, secure and stable housing.

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• 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 all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. For more information, please call 1-800-668-2642 or follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.
• 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 over $750 million to develop or repair more than 15,500 housing units across our province.

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