Seniors in Burnaby have increased access to affordable housing with today's official opening of Swedish Assisted Living Residence, a new 64-unit assisted living development funded by the governments of Canada and British Columbia, along with community partners.

"Our Government is committed to working with the Province of British Columbia to develop and implement local solutions to housing," said the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors) and Member of Parliament for Richmond, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). "This investment helps seniors in Burnaby access affordable housing that meets their needs."

"Projects like Swedish Assisted Living Residence are essential to growing communities like Burnaby because they fill a seniors housing need that falls between homecare and residential care," said Harry Bloy, MLA for Burnaby-Lougheed. "Seniors that call this building home can live independently with the enjoyment of having people nearby to socialize and develop friendships with and the peace of mind of having staff on hand if there is an emergency."

Through an amendment to the Canada-British Columbia Affordable Housing Agreement, the federal and provincial governments contributed $10.63 million for 46 apartments within the 64-unit project. The City of Burnaby provided $355,000 and Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association provided the land valued at over $2.3 million in addition to equity of nearly $200,000. Fraser Health is providing over $673,000 annually for personal care services.

"Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association has been providing quality seniors housing for residents of Burnaby for over 60 years," said Mayor Derek Corrigan, City of Burnaby. "The City was supportive of this project from the start by investing $355,000 toward this project. I would like to congratulate the association and all partners for their work and dedication to bringing more seniors housing options to Burnaby."

"When seniors make the decision to move into assisted living, we want to ensure the transition is as smooth and successful as possible," said Jerry Stanger, director, Acquired Brain Injury Services and Assisted Living, Fraser Health. "This is why Fraser Health is involved in Swedish Assisted Living Residence - to give seniors access to personal care services in their assisted living homes so they can comfortably maintain their independence and integrate into the assisted living community."

Swedish Assisted Living Residence, located at 7230 Halifax St. in Burnaby, provides 64 assisted living apartments including 46 subsidized apartments and 18 private-pay apartments. Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association owns the building and manages it in partnership with ScandiaCare.

"Plans for this building started many years ago and required an extensive amount of hard work from the board of directors," said Margaret Douglas-Matthews, executive director of Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association. "It brings us great pleasure to be officially opening Swedish Assisted Living Residence today along with government partners who have made this project possible. I would like to acknowledge ScandiaCare and staff who have truly made this building a welcoming community and home for our senior residents."

The Federal-Provincial Housing initiative is a component of the $180 million Investment in Affordable Housing 2011-2014 Agreement between the governments of Canada and British Columbia, which was announced in July 2011. With matching contributions of $90 million from both levels of government, this total combined investment helps to support affordable housing programs for B.C. residents.

The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest approximately $2 billion in housing this year. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will be spent in support of almost 605,000 households living in existing social housing. In British Columbia, this represents some 68,650 households. These investments are improving the quality of life for low-income Canadians and households living in existing social housing, including individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal people.

To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1 800 668-2642 or visit: www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Since 2001, the government of B.C. has invested $3.2 billion to provide affordable housing for low-income individuals, seniors and families. This year, more than 97,000 B.C. households will benefit from provincial social housing programs and services. To find out more, visit: www.bchousing.org

Under BC's Family Agenda, government is committed to improving housing for low-income families, seniors, and people experiencing homelessness. To learn more, visit: www.familiesfirstbc.ca

A backgrounder follows.

Media inquiries:

Fergus McCann
BC Housing
778 452-6445

Jeanette Wilkinson
CMHC Communications
BC Region
604 737-4025

Marian Ngo
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819 994-2482

Fraser Health
Media Pager
604 450-7881

BACKGROUNDER

Swedish Assisted Living Residence

Swedish Assisted Living Residence, located at 7230 Halifax St. in Burnaby, is a three-storey, wood-frame building with 64 one-bedroom assisted living apartments complete with a private patio/balcony a full kitchen including stove, fridge and microwave.

The development includes a commercial kitchen, dining room, lounge, bathing room spa, TV room, library, wellness/exercise room, arts and crafts room, scooter storage, bistro and laundry facility on each floor.

Residents receive two meals daily, access to recreational activities including exercise and art and craft classes, and assistance with light housekeeping and laundry. Staff are on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The building is owned by Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association, which also manages the building in partnership with ScandiaCare.

Partners and Funding:

Total capital cost is approximately $17.5 million:

• $10,630,000 was provided through the new Federal-Provincial Housing initiative, a partnership between the Government of Canada and the B.C. government under the Investment in Affordable Housing agreement. In addition, the Government of Canada provided $22,836 in Proposal Development Funding toward the project and the B.C. government provided construction financing of $4 million for the 18 private-pay apartments.

• The Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association provided the land valued at $2,314,000 in addition to equity of nearly $200,000.

• The City of Burnaby provided $355,000 for the project.

Operational funding:

• The B.C. government is providing approximately $277,000 in annual subsidy for 46 apartments and $673,000 annually for personal care services through Fraser Health.

Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association

Established in 1947, the Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association works towards providing quality care to the aged and less fortunate by providing comfortable housing for seniors in Burnaby.

Media inquiries:

Fergus McCann
BC Housing
778 452-6445

Jeanette Wilkinson
CMHC Communications
BC Region
604 737-4025

Marian Ngo
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819 994-2482

Fraser Health
Media Pager
604 450-7881