New Family Housing Project Officially Opens in Regina

REGINA, Nov. 17, 2017 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan officially opened a new housing project which will provide 14 units of affordable housing and support services to families with complex needs. Support services and programs will be provided by Foxvalley Counselling Inc. (Foxvalley), and the development is owned by Silver Sage Holdings Ltd. (Silver Sage).

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), Muhammad Fiaz, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Regina Pasqua, on behalf of the Honourable Paul Merriman, Minister of Social Services and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC), His Worship Michael Fougere, Mayor of the City of Regina, and Edmund Bellegarde, Silver Sage Board Chair, made the announcement today.

Quick facts:

• The federal and provincial governments, through CMHC and SHC, are jointly contributing $1.3 million towards the 14 units under the Canada-Saskatchewan Investment in Affordable Housing (2014-2019) Agreement.
  
  
• The Provincial Government through Ministry of Social Services' Child and Family Programs is contributing $500,000 to support the Foxvalley Supportive Apartment Family Living Program (SAFLP). Together with Silver Sage, Foxvalley designed the building to meet client and programming needs.
  
  
• This investment supports the Saskatchewan Housing Strategy and Poverty Reduction Strategy goal of ensuring Saskatchewan people have affordable, safe, secure and stable housing.
  
  
• The City of Regina is providing a $210,000 grant towards this development in addition to a five-year property tax exemption. The development was also made possible by land purchased from the City of Regina through a request for proposals for affordable housing developments.
  
  
• Located at 5525 Dewdney Avenue in Regina, the project consists of eight two-bedroom and six three-bedroom units. Each two-bedroom unit is 668 square feet (62.1 square metres) and the average size of the three-bedroom units is 864 square feet (78.8 square metres).

Quotes:

"This complex will not only provide safe and secure housing, it's specifically designed to foster positive community building by keeping tight-knit families together. Supports are put in place to help teach parents and families practical skills which include learning how to cook, shop, budget money properly and different parenting techniques. When we tackle housing affordability in a holistic manner?not just buildings but with tailored support services?we can make change happen in communities right now." ? Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"This project is another example of what can happen when government and non-government organizations work towards achieving a common goal. Fourteen families who are in transition will now be able to live in a safe, comfortable environment with the supports that they require to make positive changes for the future. Our government is proud to have played a role in helping to make this project a reality." ? Honourable Paul Merriman, Minister of Social Services and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation

"The City of Regina has seen the success Silver Sage has had with other projects, and we are so glad to see this partnership with Fox Valley Consulting come to fruition. Supportive housing is one of the biggest areas of need in our city, and these 14 units will make a significant difference for people who have trouble finding and maintaining housing." ? His Worship Michael Fougere, Mayor, City of Regina

"Of the many important projects Silver Sage has been a part of, this project has perhaps the greatest and most immediate impact on people's lives and families. When considering the impact of residential schools and the 60's scoop on First Nations people, we truly appreciate the co-operation of all levels of government on this project which will assist in keeping families together." ? Edmund Bellegarde, Board Chair, Silver Sage Holdings Ltd.

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. For more information, please call 1-800-668-2642 or follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

• 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 over $770 million to develop or repair almost 16,000 housing units across our province. To learn more, visit www.saskatchewan.ca.

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation