The governments of Canada and New Brunswick unveil action plan to invest $62 million by 2022 for housing actions through housing agreement

MONCTON, NB, May 24, 2019 /CNW/ - The first action plan in a 10-year federal-provincial housing agreement will invest more than $62 million into the repair, renovation and creation of affordable rental units over the next three years.  

Cost-matched funding through the New Brunswick Priorities Housing Initiative and the Canada Community Housing Initiative will see annual investments of almost $9.9 million, almost $10 million and more than $11.6 million respectively from each level of government beginning in the current fiscal year.

As part of the $62 million investment, a total of $6.8 million will create an additional 151 affordable rental units in the private, public and non-profit sectors. Another $26 million will be allocated for the repair and renovation of more than 5,100 affordable rental units across the province.

The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Moncton?Riverview?Dieppe, 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), along with the Honourable Dorothy Shephard, Minister of Social Development, made the announcement today.

Quotes:

"Safe, adequate and affordable housing is crucial in helping Canadians achieve their goals?from raising healthy children to pursuing education, jobs and opportunity. This 3-year plan is the National Housing Strategy in action. It is the first step in setting down a roadmap to more affordable, safe, and secure housing for families and individuals of New Brunswick." ? Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Moncton?Riverview?Dieppe

"This action plan will provide New Brunswickers with timely access to affordable housing that meets their needs. It recognizes the right to suitable housing in healthy, diverse communities and empowers individuals and families to reach their full potential." ? Honourable Dorothy Shephard, Minister of Social Development

Quick Facts

• New "Mixed Housing Communities" will increase access to affordable housing in inclusive and diverse neighbourhoods offering low-income families, seniors and individuals living with a disability more opportunities to improve the lives of their families.
• Other highlights include:
• Promotion of social inclusiveness by ensuring 25 per cent of investments support the needs of women and girls.
• Ensuring that a minimum of 15 per cent of new and renovated units are accessible and that all new and renovated seniors' units are accessible.
• New constructions will achieve a minimum of 25 per cent decrease in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions over National Building Code requirements.
• The action plan aligns with the province's new 10-year strategy, A Home for Everyone 2019-2029. The strategy focuses on working with individuals and families to define their individual housing goals and assist them in moving through the Housing Continuum. This will be facilitated through a comprehensive Wrap-Around Support Services model to provide incentives and supports for families and individuals, particularly those struggling with mental health or addictions.
• The 2019-2022 Action Plan and A Home for Everyone 2019-2029 were developed after a comprehensive public consultation process. It aligns with the federal government's National Housing Strategy: A Place to Call Home. Consultations involved government and community partners, eight client focus groups and nearly 1,000 New Brunswickers who participated in an online survey.
• The action plan calls for increased transparency, public engagement and housing quality. It also acknowledges the importance of prioritizing people most in need, incorporating a human rights-based approach to housing, and applying a gender lens to all investments.
• 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.
• Thanks to new investments proposed in Budget 2019, Canada's National Housing Strategy will be a 10-year, $55 billion plan that will give more Canadians a place to call home.

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.  

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation