New Affordable Housing Units Open In Regina To Support People With Diverse Needs

Released on May 30, 2024

Individuals with diverse needs have improved access to affordable and accessible housing in Regina thanks to a joint investment from the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan, the City of Regina, and the National Affordable Housing Corporation (NAHC).

Today, Minister of Social Services and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation Gene Makowsky, joined representatives from the City of Regina and the NAHC in celebrating the opening of four new affordable housing units in the Rosewood Park neighbourhood of Regina.

The four, three-bedroom stacked townhome units at Plainsview Estates will provide affordable housing and supports for eight individuals experiencing mental health and physical disabilities. 

The tenants of the new units will receive in-home support services and connection to community programs from Creative Options Regina. By combining housing with support services, vulnerable individuals can achieve stability and experience life in the community.

Funding provided for the project includes:

• $160,000 from SHC through the Rental Development Program funded through the National Housing Strategy - Saskatchewan Priorities Initiative; 
• $110,500 from NAHC; and 
• $100,000 from the City of Regina.

Quotes:

"The federal government is working with provinces to ensure we address the housing needs across Canada," Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan Dan Vandal on behalf of The Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Sean Fraser said. "Providing Saskatchewanians with access to safe, affordable homes and the support and services they need is a priority, and this is only possible through the hard work and collaboration of all our partners. I am thrilled to welcome these families into their new homes today, and I wish them all the best as they embark on this new chapter in their lives.

"Our government is very proud to be a part of this important project that makes a difference in the lives of people with unique housing needs," Makowsky said. "These new housing units give residents more than just a safe and affordable place to live; they also offer a support system, a connection to the community and an opportunity for residents to reach their full potential."   

"The City of Regina is grateful for the federal and provincial governments' investment in our city, and we are pleased to partner with them to not only expand housing options for individuals experiencing disability, but also to create a space where they can connect and thrive," City of regina Mayor Sandra Masters said. "By offering safe and accessible homes along with essential support services through Creative Options Regina, we are fostering a stronger, more inclusive community in Regina."

"Expanding our affordable rentals to persons served by our partners at Creative Options Regina (COR) was an easy decision for the NAHC," National Affordable Housing Corporation Chief Executive Officer Tyler Mathies said. "COR is well-known for supporting successful independence through in-home living for persons with intellectual disabilities in the community and thanks to this collaboration, eight persons supported by COR now have access to some of the highest quality affordable housing in the province. There is a growing and desperate need for safe, independent supportive living housing in Regina. Thanks to contributions from CMHC, SHC, and the City of Regina, we are demonstrating what is possible when we work together to create new and inclusive solutions to address affordable housing gaps in our community."

"Working together with the National Affordable Housing Corporation has allowed the people we support to secure safe, accessible and most importantly, affordable housing, in a developing neighbourhood where they can experience community and a true sense of belonging," Creative Options Regina CEO Michael Lavis said. "We are thrilled to partner and collaborate with an organization that shares similar values and are striving to address housing insecurity for people experiencing disability."

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.  
• In 2019, the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan entered into an agreement through the National Housing Strategy. The Canada-Saskatchewan Bilateral Agreement will invest $585 million over 10 years, which is cost matched between the federal and provincial governments.   
• All funding provided under the NHS is cost-shared 50/50 by the federal and provincial governments across a broad spectrum of programs. While funding under the Rental Development Program (RDP) may reflect a 100 per cent federal contribution, other programs delivered under the NHS- SP may be 100 per cent provincially funded.
• The RDP prioritizes funding to develop affordable rental housing for households who are "hard-to-house" in Saskatchewan with incomes under the Saskatchewan Household Income Maximums (SHIM)-Low. The RDP may fund up to 70 per cent of a project's capital cost.
• NAHC is a non-profit organization that works with private home builders, government units and other non-profit organizations to facilitate the construction of affordable housing units in Saskatchewan. Since 2020, SHC have worked with NAHC to develop 45 affordable housing units (including this project) in Saskatoon and Regina, through the RDP.
• The tenants will be receiving support services from COR, an organization that develops personalized support services for people experiencing a wide range of disabilities. They offer in-home personalized supports through their Supportive Living Program and wayfinding supports through their Daytime Program.

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 National Housing Strategy, visit: www.placetocallhome.ca. 
• Check out the National Housing Strategy Housing Funding Initiatives Map to see affordable housing projects that have been developed across Canada.
• In November 2019, the Government of Saskatchewan released Saskatchewan's Growth Plan: the Next Decade of Growth 2020-2030, which sets out the Government's vision for a province of 1.4 million people by 2030. The Plan identifies principles, goals and actions to ensure Saskatchewan is capturing the opportunities and meeting the challenges of a growing province. To learn more, visit: www.saskatchewan.ca.         

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