Released on February 15, 2019
The Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan, through Oxford House Society of Regina, are providing supportive housing for 10 individuals who are recovering from alcohol and/or drug addiction and moving toward full independence.
Today, 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), along with Greg Lawrence, Legislative Secretary and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Moose Jaw Wakamow, on behalf of Social Services Minister and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) Paul Merriman, and Blair Pope, Executive Director of Oxford House Society of Regina, announced the opening of two Oxford House Society homes in Regina.Oxford House provides social and addictions supports for members. Each bedroom in the house is provided to an individual recovering from an addiction, who signs an agreement and works toward independence.
“Our government is proud to support a project that will provide safe and affordable transitional housing for individuals recovering from drug and alcohol addiction in Regina,” Goodale said. “This type of supportive housing not only sets the foundation for their success, it helps make a stronger community. It is with great pride that our Government contributed to making the Oxford House rental development a reality, and we would like to thank the province of Saskatchewan, along with the Oxford House Society for its collaboration in the realization of this project. It’s part of the new National Housing Strategy, which will cut chronic homelessness in half over a decade.”
“We are pleased to support Oxford House Society of Regina as they work to improve the lives of individuals recovering from addictions and help them along the path to success,” Lawrence said. “This project will provide residents with the supports and resources they require, in a safe and comfortable environment. Our government believes in standing up for the people of Saskatchewan, and a safe, place to call home is a key component of that commitment.”
“Oxford House Society of Regina fills the gap in support necessary for individuals to transition from treatment to independent long-term recovery,” Pope said. “This project is an excellent example of government, foundations, private enterprise and non-profits working collaboratively. We are grateful for this support.”
Quick facts:
- As well as providing a sober living environment, Oxford House Society of Regina has proven to be an effective, low-cost alternative to support those individuals in recovery. The members also work co-operatively to support each other and maintain the house and enforce house rules.
- The Government of Canada, through CMHC, along with the Government of Saskatchewan, through SHC, jointly contributed $470,000 toward the two homes under the Canada-Saskatchewan Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement.
- The project consists of the acquisition and renovation of two existing homes. Each of the completed homes is suitable for five adults to live communally while they continue with sobriety and recovery from addictions.
- SHC has previously partnered with Oxford House to acquire and renovate three five-bedroom houses. The first has been operating successfully since 2014. The second two have been operating since 2016.
- The Government of Canada is currently rolling out its National Housing Strategy (NHS), an ambitious 10-year, $40 billion plan that will create 100,000 new housing units and lift 530,000 families out of housing need, as well as repair and renew more than 300,000 housing units and reduce chronic homelessness by 50 per cent.
- This investment supports the province’s Housing Strategy and Poverty Reduction Strategy goal of ensuring Saskatchewan people have affordable, safe, secure and stable housing. It also supports Saskatchewan’s Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan by supporting individuals recovering from addictions.
- 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 visit www.cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook. To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit www.placetocallhome.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 more than $780 million to develop or repair more than 16,000 housing units across our province. To learn more, visit www.saskatchewan.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Valerie Glazer
Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Ottawa
Phone: 819-654-5546
Email: valerie.glazer@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Leonard Catling
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Vancouver
Phone: 604-787-1787
Email: lcatling@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
Leya Moore
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3610
Email: leya.moore@gov.sk.ca