Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan Support New Emergency Shelter in Melfort

MELFORT, SK, April 25, 2019 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada, the Province of Saskatchewan and North East Outreach and Support Services Inc. (NEOSS) officially opened a new four-unit emergency shelter for women and children who are victims of family violence.

The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf 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, along with Todd Goudy, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Melfort, and Louise Schweitzer, Executive Director of NEOSS, made the announcement today.

The project will provide "second stage" housing for clients who are ready to leave the adjacent NEOSS Safe Shelter. The units will give shelter residents more time to stabilize and gain independence, while staying close to NEOSS Personal Violence Counsellors. The project has 2 two-bedroom units (842 square feet or 78 square metres) and 2 four-bedroom units (1,300 square feet or 121 square metres).

Quotes:

"Safe and secure housing is the foundation for rebuilding a better life for victims of domestic violence, a terrible crime that disproportionately affects women. Our Government is committed to helping victims access stable and supportive environments so that they can focus on building a brighter future. It takes tremendous strength and courage, and we're proud to help contribute to that process." ? Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"Our government is pleased to collaborate with the Government of Canada and North East Outreach and Support Services to help provide safe and affordable housing for victims of family violence in Melfort and the surrounding area. This facility will help meet a need for this type of housing in Melfort and, most importantly, the women and children who will come through its doors will feel safe and secure. We thank everyone involved for seeing this project through to completion." ? Honourable Paul Merriman, Minister of Social Services and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation

"North East Outreach and Support Services began its journey to assist women and children navigating from domestic violence to a violence-free lifestyle in 1984. Through many years of hard work, in 2016 a 16-bed Domestic Violence shelter began operations due to partnerships with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Saskatchewan Housing Corporation and Affinity Credit Union. The generosity of our municipal government and members of our community through the capital campaign, along with CMHC, SHC and Affinity Credit Union partnerships, assisted us in continuing on this journey to now be opening this four-unit transition facility. This facility will assist us to give longer term support to a woman and her children, removing barriers for them and bettering their chances to stay violence free."
? Louise Schweitzer, Executive Director, NEOSS

Quick facts:

• The Government of Canada, through Canada and Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with the Government of Saskatchewan, through Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC), are jointly contributing up to $670,000 towards this project through the 2014-2019 Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) Agreement.
• 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 per cent.
• This investment supports Saskatchewan's Housing Strategy goals of increasing housing supply, improving housing affordability and supporting individuals and families in greatest housing need.

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