New Affordable Housing for Large Families in Pinehouse Lake

Released on June 18, 2024

Families in low-income situations have improved access to affordable housing in Pinehouse Lake thanks to a joint investment from the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan.

Today, MLA for Athabasca Jim Lemaigre, on behalf of Social Services Minister and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) Gene Makowsky, joined representatives from the Pinehouse Housing Corporation (PHC) to celebrate the opening of four new affordable housing units in Pinehouse Lake. 

The new fourplex will be operated by PHC and provide affordable housing to four large families. With five bedrooms per unit, the development addresses the demographic needs of northern Saskatchewan, where larger family sizes and multigenerational living are common. 

Funding provided for the development includes: 

• $1,030,000 from SHC through the Rental Development Program (RDP) funded through the National Housing Strategy - Saskatchewan Priorities Initiative;
• $310,478 from the federal government through Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, part of the National Housing Strategy; and
• $50,000 from PHC.

Quotes: 

“Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call their own,” Federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser said. ”We are committed to working with partners across the country to make this a reality for all Canadians. To the families moving into their new homes today, I wish you the very best as you start this new chapter in your lives.”

"The Government of Saskatchewan is deeply committed to improving the lives of families in Pinehouse Lake and the north," Social Services Minister and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation Gene Makowsky said. "This new affordable housing project is more than just buildings; it is about creating a safe and welcoming community where families can thrive. By collaborating with our partners, we are dedicated to ensuring that those in need have access to safe, affordable housing. This initiative underscores our ongoing commitment to support and uplift northern communities, providing them with a stable and nurturing environment to call home."

"The Pinehouse Housing Corporation is grateful for the partnership and support of Saskatchewan Housing Corporation and Métis Nation Saskatchewan that have made this project a reality," Pinehouse Housing Corporation Board Chair Conrad Misponas said. "The Family 4 Plex creates affordable housing units for large and multigenerational families in Pinehouse. We see that healthy families are critical to the long-term success of our young people in terms of education, health, and all aspects of their lives. Before these larger units were available families were living in crowded conditions or having to split up in multiple locations. A family with a home has hope and family with hope has everything."

Quick facts: 

• Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10-year, $82-plus billion plan that will give more Canadians a place to call home.  
• NHS is built on strong partnerships between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, and continuous engagement with municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, and the social and private housing sectors. It was created after consultations with Canadians from all walks of life, including those who have experienced housing need. 
• All NHS investments delivered by the federal, provincial, and territorial governments will respect the key principles of NHS that support partnerships, people and communities.  

• All funding provided under the NHS is cost-shared 50/50 by the federal and provincial governments across a broad spectrum of programs. Launched in April 2019 as part of the National Housing Strategy, Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy contributes to supporting the needs of the most vulnerable Canadians and to improving access to safe, stable and affordable housing. This includes supporting the reduction of homelessness, including chronic homelessness.
  • Reaching Home is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. This program provides funding and support to urban, Indigenous, territorial and rural and remote communities to help them address their local homelessness needs.

   

• Through Reaching Home, the federal government is already investing $4 billion over nine years to address homelessness. As stated in Solving the Crisis: Canada’s Housing Plan, Budget 2024 proposes an additional $1 billion over four years for Reaching Home, starting in 2024-25.

• The Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of Canada entered into an agreement pursuant to the NHS. The Canada-Saskatchewan Bilateral Agreement will invest $585 million over 10 years, which is cost-matched by the federal and provincial governments.  
• PHC is a for-profit corporation owned by the Northern Village of Pinehouse Lake, which operates rental housing units in the village. Since 2007, SHC has partnered with PHC to develop 42 rental units under the RDP (including this project) and 10 homeownership units through the Summit Action Fund (SAF).  

Associated Links:  

• Visit Canada.ca/housing for the most requested Government of Canada housing information.  
• 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 everyone in Canada has a home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook. 
• To find out more about the NHS, visit: www.placetocallhome.ca 
• Check out the NHS Housing Funding Initiatives Map to see affordable housing projects that have been developed across Canada.

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