Governments Of Canada And Saskatchewan Support Habitat For Humanity In Moose Jaw

Released on February 25, 2020

The Government of Canada and Saskatchewan have partnered with Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) to help a Moose Jaw family realize their dream of homeownership. 

Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with Member of the Legislative Assembly for Moose Jaw Wakamow Greg Lawrence on behalf of Social Services Minister and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) Paul Merriman, and Habitat for Humanity Regina Chief Executive Officer Kelly Holmes-Binns, made the announcement today.

Located at 914 Ominica Street West, the project consists of a three-bedroom, two-storey home.  Together, the main and upper floors of the home total approximately 1,456 square feet or 135 square metres.

“Our government believes that every Canadian deserves a safe place to call home,” said Hussen.  “Across the country, we are working with organizations like Habitat to build the sort of safe, appropriate, affordable housing necessary for healthy and sustainable communities.  Here in Moose Jaw, the investments in this new home will make a real difference in the lives of this hard-working family, a place they can proudly call their own.” 

“This home would not be possible without Habitat, its partners and volunteers coming together to help a family in need of a safe, affordable home,” Lawrence said.  “We all know that a home brings long-term financial benefits and better futures for families and communities.  Our government is pleased to support this Habitat project and others throughout the province and, most importantly, provide a helping hand up for another Saskatchewan family.”

“We are thrilled to be here today to celebrate another Saskatchewan family as they take possession of their new home,” Holmes-Binns said.   “They have worked hard to be able to purchase this new home and we could not be prouder of our partnership with this local family.  The Habitat Moose Jaw committee has done an amazing job of bringing local sponsors, donors, volunteers and families together on their journey to homeownership.  We would like to express our thanks for the support of the community – you have made this day possible for another Moose Jaw family.”

Quick Facts:
• The Government of Canada, through CMHC, and the Government of Saskatchewan, through SHC, jointly contributed $65,000 to build this home through the Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) 2014-2019 Agreement.
• The Government of Canada is currently rolling out its National Housing Strategy (NHS), an ambitious 10-year, $55 billion plan that will create 125,000 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.
• The province’s overall commitment to Habitat for Humanity totals more than $11.8 million since March 2009.  This total includes funding of $600,000 from the provincial Summit Action Fund.
• Habitat’s innovative delivery model provides opportunities for families to stabilize their housing and to achieve their homeownership goals.  Each partner family selected by Habitat contributes 500 partnering hours in building their home or other Habitat homes.  To learn more about Habitat for Humanity and their work across Saskatchewan, visit www.habitat.ca.

Associated links:
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.  CMHC’s aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home they can afford, and that meets their needs.  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. 

Pursuant to the NHS, the Canada-Saskatchewan Bilateral Agreement will invest $449.9 million over the next 10 years, cost matched by the federal and provincial governments, in housing across the province.  CMHC and the Government of Saskatchewan have reached agreement on the first three-year action plan.

Under the agreement, housing is a key priority in providing a better quality of life for Saskatchewan families and communities.  Since 2007, the Government of Saskatchewan has invested $804 million to develop or repair more than 16,600 housing units around the province.  To learn more, visit www.saskatchewan.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Maya Dura
Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Ottawa
Phone: 819-654-7599
Email: maya.dura@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Leonard Catling
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Calgary
Phone: 604-787-1787
Email: lcatling@cmhc-schl.gc.ca 

Linda Saliken
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0246
Email: linda.saliken@gov.sk.ca