New rental housing for individuals with complex needs opens in Regina

REGINA, Dec. 19, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan, along with the City of Regina and Souls Harbour Rescue Mission (SHRM) officially opened the Gerri Carroll Hope Centre, a new 17-unit affordable rental housing development for individuals who have complex needs and are unable to secure and maintain housing without supports.

The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and the Honourable Paul Merriman, Minister of Social Services and Minister Responsible for the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC), with His Worship Michael Fougere, Mayor of the City of Regina and Joseph Miller, Executive Director of Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, made the announcement today.

Quotes:

"The Gerri Carroll Hope Centre is going to make a big impact for some of Regina's most vulnerable citizens. With a guiding hand from the dedicated people at Souls Harbour Rescue mission, these people will be able to get the care and supports they need to help break the cycle of homelessness. And with green technology throughout and a reduced carbon footprint, our government is pleased to partner on important, innovative projects just like this." ? Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness  

"The Gerri Carroll Hope Centre will help Souls Harbour Rescue Mission to increase the services and supports they provide to people who need it most in Regina. Our government is pleased to work with Soul's Harbour Rescue Mission, along with the Government of Canada and the City of Regina, to make this project a reality and, most importantly, help 17 individuals along their path to success." ? Honourable Paul Merriman, Minister of Social Services and Minister Responsible for SHC

"Affordable housing remains the top priority for the City of Regina and our residents. The people who will have a chance to make their home here are among our city's most vulnerable, and our Council is eternally grateful to Souls Harbour for ensuring that they receive the supports they need to enter and maintain their own living space." ? His Worship Michael Fougere, Mayor, City of Regina

"From the reclamation of a contaminated piece of land, to the construction of a passively designed new facility with various green initiatives, this is the Samaritan Project! With enhanced stewardship as the focal point of the project, we can now provide more food, clothing, emergency shelter, daycare services, and permanent housing to those in need. The heart of the people we serve beats strongly within the walls of the new Gerri Carroll Hope Centre." ? Joseph Miller, Executive Director, Souls Harbour Rescue Mission

Quick Facts:

• The Government of Canada, through CMHC, along with the Government of Saskatchewan, through SHC, jointly contributed $1.4 million to the Samaritan Project under the Canada-Saskatchewan Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement.
• This housing project is also supported by $340,000 in funding from the City of Regina.
• Located at 1632 Angus Street in Regina's North Central neighbourhood, the project consists of 13 bachelor and 4 one-bedroom units within a larger facility containing a day care, emergency shelter, clothing depot, kitchen and dining room.
• The Gerri Carroll Hope Centre will be operated by Souls Harbour Rescue Mission. The project is adjacent to SHRM's existing development, Harbour House.
• The project will house individuals living with physical or cognitive disabilities, mental illness, and addictions and behavioural disorders who are unable to maintain secure housing without support services.
• Support services will be provided in-house, including meal assistance and food security, clothing, addictions counseling, rent payment support services and referrals to community support partners. In addition, there will be 24-hour emergency support on site and a resident support manager.
• The Government of Canada is currently rolling out its National Housing Strategy (NHS)?an ambitious 10-year, $40 billion plan that will create 100,000 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 percent.
• The NHS is built on strong partnerships between federal, provincial and territorial governments, and on continuous engagement with others, including municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, and the social and private sectors to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians.
• This investment supports the Saskatchewan Housing Strategy and Poverty Reduction Strategy goal of ensuring Saskatchewan people have affordable, safe, secure and stable housing. It also supports the Province's Mental Health and Addictions Plan and Disability Strategy.
• SHRM is a non-profit organization established in 1990 to provide support and emergency relief for people in need in Regina. SHRM provides emergency shelter, affordable rental accommodations, subsidized daycare, meals, clothing, addictions services, rental and support services.

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 visit 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.

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 more than $780 million to develop or repair more than 16,000 housing units across our province. To learn more, visit www.saskatchewan.ca.

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation