Office of the Premier
PRINCE GEORGE - At an event to mark the progress of construction and celebrate funding for Elizabeth Fry Place, a new $6-million, 36-unit seniors' development in Prince George, the governments of Canada and British Columbia announced funding for three additional housing developments for seniors and people with disabilities in need, located in Burnaby, Nelson and Vancouver.
"New construction projects are a great way to stimulate our economy and put British Columbians to work," said the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages and Regional Minister for British Columbia, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). "Today we are celebrating not only the construction of this project in Prince George, but also work underway on housing projects in Vancouver, Nelson and Burnaby. These will make a real and lasting difference in our communities, improving access to affordable housing and offering a better quality of life for our residents."
"I am pleased to be here with all of our partners to officially announce the province's support for Elizabeth Fry Place," said Shirley Bond, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Attorney General and MLA for Prince George-Valemount. "We are adding 36 new affordable homes in Prince George, and today as a result of our strong partnership we are able to continue the investment in affordable homes for seniors in need and people with disabilities right across British Columbia. Investments like this improve infrastructure in communities but more importantly they improve the quality of life for people who need affordable housing."
Through an amendment to the Canada-British Columbia Affordable Housing Agreement, the federal and provincial governments are contributing a combined total of more than $17 million for four affordable Seniors' Rental Housing (SRH) projects. Municipalities and community partners also contributed approximately $8.6 million to the SRH developments in their areas through a combination of property tax exemptions, waived development cost charges, land equity and/or capital cost contributions.
The City of Prince George is providing $910,000 in cash equity for Elizabeth Fry Place which will be managed and operated by the Prince George & District Elizabeth Fry Housing Society (PGEFHS). PGEFHS is a non-profit, volunteer based organization that assists primarily women, children and youth in areas of advocacy, counselling, education and social/legal justice.
"The City of Prince George is proud to partner with BC Housing in the development of this much needed seniors' housing project in the downtown," said Mayor Dan Rogers, City of Prince George. "When complete, these affordable rental apartments will be a great addition to our community. This project represents another step towards a better downtown and we thank the Province and Government of Canada for funding this project and congratulate the Prince George & District Elizabeth Fry Housing Society who we know will do an excellent job in managing the affordable housing."
"Our society saw a real need for more affordable and accessible housing for seniors in the City of Prince George," said Kathi Heim, executive director of the Prince George & District Elizabeth Fry Housing Society. "We are thankful that our government partners also recognized this housing need in our community and the development of this project is the result of this recognition."
The SRH initiative is a result of a $365-million joint investment under an amendment to the Canada-British Columbia Affordable Housing Agreement, which includes funding through Canada's Economic Action Plan and by the Government of British Columbia. This initiative, first announced by the two levels of government on April 8, 2009, provided $123.5 million, including $104 million for seniors and $19.5 million for persons with disabilities, to develop approximately 1,300 new affordable rental housing units, which is helping to stimulate local economies in smaller communities across B.C. Under terms of the agreement, the provincial and federal governments provided matching contributions of $61.79 million.
Canada's Economic Action Plan built on the Government of Canada's commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless. It provided $475 million, over two years, to build new rental housing for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. Overall, the Economic Action Plan included $2 billion for the construction of new and the renovation of existing social housing, plus $2 billion in low-cost loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.
A new agreement signed recently by both levels of government implements B.C.'s allocation of the remaining three years of the $1.9 billion, which amounts to a further $90 million in federal funding for British Columbians in housing need. The Province will contribute another $90 million in matching funds for a combined investment of $180 million to support housing programs and services that help B.C. residents access safe, affordable housing.
The Province of British Columbia $14-billion capital infrastructure program is creating up to 88,000 jobs, building vital public infrastructure and stimulating local economies across the province.
For more information on this and other measures in Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit: www.actionplan.gc.ca
To find out how CMHC is working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit: www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan
In 2010-11, the Province will invest over $562 million to address a range of housing needs from homeless to affordable rental housing. To find out more, visit: www.bchousing.org
Two backgrounders follow.
Media contacts:
Andrea Scott
CMHC Communications
604 737-4064
Vincent Chou
BC Housing
604 454-5444
Alyson Queen
Office of Minister Finley
819 994-2482
BACKGROUNDER 1
Elizabeth Fry Place
Prince George & District Elizabeth Fry Housing Society's affordable rental apartment building, located at 1373 6th Avenue in Prince George, will provide 36 Seniors' Rental Housing (SRH) apartments for seniors and people with disabilities in need.
Construction is anticipated to be complete in spring 2012.
Partners and funding:
The estimated capital cost of Elizabeth Fry Place is $6.2 million for 36 affordable seniors' housing units.
- The Government of Canada provided approximately $2.7 million through Canada's Economic Action Plan.
- The Province of British Columbia invested approximately $2.6 million.
- The City of Prince George is providing $910,000 in cash equity for the development of this project.
Prince George & District Elizabeth Fry Housing Society:Established in 1979, the Prince George & District Elizabeth Fry Housing Society is a registered charitable organization committed to assisting primarily women, children and youth in areas of advocacy, counselling, education and social/legal justice.
Media contacts:
Andrea Scott
CMHC Communications
604 737-4064
Vincent Chou
BC Housing
604 454-5444
Alyson Queen
Office of Minister Finley
819 994-2482
BACKGROUNDER 2
Seniors' rental housing developments in B.C.
The estimated capital cost for the four SRH project across the province is $25.8 M.
Community: Burnaby
Number of Units: 30
Development Name/Operator: The Poppy Residences - South Burnaby Royal Canadian Branch (No. 83)
Federal-Provincial Contribution: $2.2 M
Other Contributions: $4.2 M
Community: Nelson**
Number of Units: 20
Development Name/Operator: Canadian Mental Health Association - Kootenays Branch
Federal-Provincial Contribution: $3 M
Other Contributions: $1.2 M
Community: Prince George
Number of Units: 36
Development Name/Operator: Elizabeth Fry Place - Prince George & District Elizabeth Fry Society
Federal-Provincial Contribution: $5.3 M
Other Contributions: $0.9 M
Community: Vancouver
Number of Units: 30
Development Name/Operator: Association of Neighbourhood Houses of British Columbia (8th and Vine)
Federal-Provincial Contribution: $6.7 M
Other Contributions: $2.3 M
Total Number of Units: 116
Total Federal-Provincial Contribution: $17.2M
Total Other Contributions*: $8.6M
*May include municipal and/or community partner contributions and/or land equity.
**Project developed in partnership with Columbia Basin Trust
Media contacts:
Andrea Scott
CMHC Communications
604 737-4064
Vincent Chou
BC Housing
604 454-5444
Alyson Queen
Office of Minister Finley
819 994-2482
