EDMONTON, Alberta, June 28, 2005 — More than $9.6 million has been allocated under the Canada-Alberta Affordable Housing Program to help create 211 new affordable housing units in six Alberta communities. The projects will be built in Banff, Edmonton, Grande Cache, Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat and Whitecourt.
The projects were announced today by the Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honourable Joe Fontana, Minister of Labour and Housing and Yvonne Fritz, Minister of Alberta Seniors and Community Supports.
"The Government of Canada is committed to providing quality affordable housing for those Canadians who need it most," said Minister McLellan. "Housing is an important part of peoples' lives and is central to our commitment to build healthy, sustainable communities. We look forward to working closely with our partners in Alberta to continue to address these needs in the province and across the country."
"The need for affordable housing affects many Albertans, so I am especially pleased that we were able to enter into agreements that are located across the province," said Fritz. "These projects reflect the commitment of the Government of Alberta and the federal government to work together to meet local housing needs and enhance the quality of life for Albertans."
Federal and provincial contributions to affordable housing projects are enhanced by contributions from other partners including municipalities, local management bodies, non-profit organizations and private sector companies.
Funding for the projects announced today are part of the $134 million in federal and provincial funding allocated under the Canada-Alberta Affordable Housing Program Agreement, signed in June 2002. To date more than $109 million of that funding has been allocated towards the creation of 2,449 affordable housing units throughout the province. These communities include Banff, Brooks, Calgary, Camrose, Canmore, Cochrane, Edmonton, Grande Cache, Grande Prairie, the MD of Greenview, Hythe, Leduc, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, the MD of Opportunity, Red Deer, Rocky Mountain House, Stony Plain, Villeneuve, Whitecourt and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.
Details of each of the affordable housing projects announced today can be found in the accompanying backgrounders. For more information on the Canada-Alberta Affordable Housing Program, visit the Alberta Seniors and Community Supports Web site at www.seniors.gov.ab.ca.
For more information, contact:
Jason Chance
Alberta Seniors and Community Supports
(780) 415-9950
Dial 310-0000 for toll free access outside Edmonton
Jason Cobb
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
(403) 515-2903
Backgrounder
1. Project Name / Location: Young Women's Christian Association of Banff (YWCA)
| Applicant: | YWCA of Banff |
| Project Address: | 102 Spray Avenue |
| Target Clients: | Low-income individuals |
| Number of Units: | 42 |
| Unit type: | Studio units (single and double occupancy-dormitory style) |
| Proposed Rents: |
Single occupancy units $340 or 400 per month, depending on unit size Double occupancy units $640 per month works out to ($320 per person) |
| Total Project Cost: | $2,469,873 |
| CAAHP Grant: |
$1,050,000 (Federal) |
| Other contributions: |
$200,000 (Town of Banff) |
| Contact: |
Ms. Kerry-Lee Schultheis, |
2. Project Name / Location: Centre de Santé Saint-Thomas Health Centre Edmonton
| Applicant: | Centre de Sante' Saint-Thomas Health Centre |
| Project Address: | 9040-84 Avenue |
| Target Clients: | Seniors |
| Number of Units: | 50 units (there is a total of 197 units, 50 will be funded under the Canada-Alberta Affordable Housing Program) |
| Unit type: |
26 x bachelor units |
| Proposed Rents: |
Bachelor units $453 per month |
| Total Project Cost: | $24,909,020 |
| CAAHP Grant: |
$1,250,000 (Federal) |
| Other Contributions: | $3,000,000 (Life-lease deposits) $3,000,000 (Federal Infrastructure Grant) $2,000,020 (Fundraising) $1,200,000 (Seniors Support Housing Initiative Program) $13,209,000 (Financing) |
| Contact: |
Denis Collette |
3. Project Name / Location: Shepherd's Care Greenfield, Edmonton
| Applicant: | Shepherd's Care Foundation |
| Project Address: | 3820-114 Street |
| Target Clients: | Low income seniors |
| Number of Units: | 35 |
| Unit type: | 35 x Bachelor units |
| Proposed Rents: | Bachelor units $ 264 per month |
| Total Project Cost: | $1,725,970 |
| CAAHP Grant: |
$276,750 (Federal) |
| Other contributions: | $1,172,470 (Financing) |
| Contact: | Mr. John Pray President Shepherd's Care Foundation (780) 463.9810 |
4. Applicant: City of Grande Prairie, Grande Prairie
| Project Address: | 99 Street and 92 Avenue |
| Target Clients: |
Low to-moderate income families (16 units) |
| Number of Units: | 40 units |
| Unit type: |
12 x one bedroom units |
| Proposed Rents: |
One bedroom units $300 per month |
| Total Project Cost: | $4,118,000 |
| CAAHP Grant: |
$1,000,000 (Federal) |
| Contact: | Mr. Greg Scerbak Community Services Director City of Grande Prairie (780) 538.0383 |
5. Project Name / Location: Medicine Hat Women's Shelter Second Stage Housing Project, Medicine Hat
| Applicant: | Medicine Hat Women's Shelter Society (Phoenix Safe House) |
| Project Address: | 110-4 Street NE |
| Target Clients: | Victims of family violence |
| Number of Units: | 10 units |
| Unit type: |
9 x three bedroom units |
| Proposed Rents: | Three bedroom unit $575 per month |
| Total Project Cost: | $2,086,559 |
| CAAHP Grant: |
$250,000 (Federal) |
|
Other contributions: |
$200,000 (Municipality — land donation) |
| Contact: | Mr. Gerry Carter Executive Director Medicine Hat Women's Shelter Society (403) 527.8223 |
6. Project Name / Location: Spruce View Heights Enhanced Lodge, Whitecourt
| Applicant: | Town of Whitecourt |
| Project Address: | 47 Street and Sunset Boulevard |
| Target Clients: | Seniors |
| Number of Units: | 24 units (the project will have 49 units, 24 will be funded under the Canada-Alberta Affordable Housing Program) |
| Unit type: |
8 x studio/bachelor units |
| Proposed Rents: |
Studio/bachelor units $400 per month |
| Total Project Cost: | $4,400.000 |
| CAAHP Grant: |
$600,000 (Federal) |
| Other contributions |
$125,000 (Community/Facility Enhancement Program) |
| Contact: | Luc Mercier / Dean Bradford Town of Whitecourt (780) 778.8400 |
7. Project Name / Location: Aseniwuche Winewak Nation of Canada, Grande Cache
| Applicant: | Aseniwuche Winewak Nation of Canada |
| Project Address: | Various |
| Target Clients: | Low-to moderate income families |
| Number of Units: | 10 units |
| Unit type: | 10 x three bedroom single-family manufactured homes |
| Proposed Rents: | $166 – $500 per month — based on income |
| Total Project Cost: | $750,000 |
| AHPI Grant: |
$375,000 (Federal) |
| Contact: | Rachelle McDonald Aseniwuche Winewak Nation of Canada |
Robert Storrier
Alberta Seniors and Community Supports
(780) 415-9950
Dial 310.0000 for toll free access outside Edmonton
Jason Cobb
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
(403) 515-2903