Federal and Provincial Governments Support Housing in Four Saskatchewan Communities

Released on February 22, 2018

“Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home,” said Goodale.   “We’re proud to announce the opening of 1914 Halifax Street today, and the funding for four more affordable housing projects in Regina, Saskatoon, Humboldt and Prince Albert that will make a big difference for many people in these communities.  And there’s more to come.  The Government of Canada’s first ever National Housing Strategy will invest $40 billion over the next 10 years to reduce homelessness and improve the availability and quality of housing for Canadians in need all across the country.”

“This project brought together private and public resources, both financial and overall project design,” Halifax Holdings West Inc. President Stephen Onda said.  “By working together, we were able to build a larger facility with specific design considerations and embrace adaptable principles.  The people and organizations that have supported this project shared their knowledge of housing challenges in meeting affordable and hard-to-house residences.  This was invaluable as the project was imagined, developed, financed, built and now to be realized.”

This funding will help create affordable housing units through five projects in four communities:

• $2 million to Halifax Holdings West Inc. to help create 20 affordable rental housing units in a 45 unit project in Regina for individuals who require supports.
• $1 million to The Elizabeth – Retirement Community Project in Humboldt to repurpose the existing St. Elizabeth’s convent to create 26 independent living units with some supports and 25 units for lower income seniors.
• $368,000 toward Star Court, Stewart Property Holding’s renovation of 16 units for individuals in need of independent housing in Saskatoon.
• $470,000 to Oxford House Society Inc. in Regina to purchase two homes with a combined total of 10 bedrooms for members who require social and addictions supports.
• $630,500 to RiverBank Development Corporation in Prince Albert to purchase six single-family dwellings for large families in need of adequate housing.

• The federal and provincial governments, through CMHC and SHC, are jointly contributing more than $2 million to Halifax Holdings West Inc. for 20 affordable housing units within the 45 unit project under the Canada-Saskatchewan Investment in Affordable Housing 2014-2019 Agreement.  The City of Regina is committed to providing $705,000 to the project.
• All units in the building are approximately 350 square feet (32.5 square metres) in size.  The building has an elevator and is within walking distance of services and amenities.
• All 45 tenants are anticipated to be supported by Phoenix Residential Society.  SHC and CMHC are funding 20 of the units and Halifax Holdings West Inc. is funding 25.  Tenants will be identified by Phoenix Residential Society, which will tailor supports to the individual’s needs.
• This investment supports the Saskatchewan Housing Strategy and Poverty Reduction Strategy goal of ensuring Saskatchewan people have affordable, safe, secure and stable housing.
• Canada's first ever National Housing Strategy is a 10-year, $40-billion plan that will give more Canadians a place to call home. Under the National Housing Strategy, the federal government will recognize and progressively implement every Canadian's right to access housing that meets their needs and that they can afford.

• 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 more than $770 million to develop or repair almost 16,000 housing units across our province.  To learn more, visit www.saskatchewan.ca.