Government of Canada to Build Safe and Affordable Housing for Seniors in Paquetville

PAQUETVILLE, NB, June 17, 2019 /CNW/ - Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. That is why, in May 2018, the Government launched the National Housing Co-investment Fund (NHCF), the largest program of its kind in Canadian history.

Today in Paquetville, Serge Cormier, Member of Parliament for Acadie?Bathurst, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), announced a federal government financial commitment of nearly $1.18 million for the construction of Les Logements du Village project.

The organization Les Logements du Manoir EBP Inc. will construct a 12-unit apartment building in the heart of Paquetville, which will allow seniors with low to moderate incomes to live independently and stay involved in their community. This is in fact a much-anticipated reconstruction following the fire that destroyed the original building in the summer of 2017. This project is made possible thanks to the NHCF, a pillar initiative of the National Housing Strategy (NHS).

Quotes

"Through the National Housing Strategy, our government is providing assistance to those who need it most here in Paquetville and in all corners of the country. We believe that every Canadian should be able to retire in dignity, which is why we are very pleased to be helping the seniors who lived here rebuild what they lost. Seniors are important members of our community. That is why we are returning the age of eligibility for Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) to 65 and increasing the GIS for single seniors." ? Serge Cormier, Member of Parliament for Acadie?Bathurst

"We are proud to be able to count on the support of the federal government to provide affordable housing for seniors in the area. There is a real need for this kind of housing in our community and elsewhere in Canada, and it is reassuring to know that the Government of Canada, through CMHC, recognizes this need and invests in our housing. It should be recalled that a fire had destroyed similar existing affordable housing units in July 2017, and we are delighted with this new project, as are the former tenants who had been waiting a long time for good news like this." ? Bruno Holmes, General Manager, Les Logements du Village

Quick Facts

• The new building aims to achieve both energy savings and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 27% compared to the requirements of the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2015 for structures like this one.
• All the common areas and three units in the building will be accessible.
• With a budget of $13.2 billion, the NHCF gives priority to projects that help those in greatest need, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, those dealing with mental health issues and addictions, veterans and young adults.
• Through the NHCF, the Government of Canada will work with partners to build up to 60,000 new affordable homes and repair up to 240,000 existing affordable and community homes over the next 10 years.
• Investments are also planned in the NHCF to create or repair at least 4,000 shelter spaces for victims of family violence and create at least 7,000 new affordable housing units for seniors and 2,400 new affordable housing units for people with developmental disabilities.
• Under the Investing in Canada plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.

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, visit our website or follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
• To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit www.placetocallhome.ca.

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation