Governments of Canada & Ontario Celebrate New Affordable Housing in Guelph
The official opening of 80 new affordable rental housing units for seniors living on low-income was held today in Guelph. The project received $9.6 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments. The construction of the Residences of St. Joseph’s has created up to 200 jobs in Ontario.
The Honourable Michael Chong, Member of Parliament for Wellington – Halton Hills, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC); Liz Sandals, Member of Provincial Parliament for Guelph, on behalf of the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; along with Chris White, Warden of Wellington County, made the announcement.
“Our Government is investing in affordable housing here in Guelph, to help create jobs and improve the quality of life for those who need it most,” said MP Chong. “These initiatives will help low-income seniors living in our community access safe and affordable housing that meets their needs.”
“All of our seniors deserve the right to age with dignity in a home that is safe, affordable and accessible,” said MPP Sandals. “In honour of senior’s month I am pleased to see how this project has made a positive difference in the lives of many people right here in Guelph.”
“The County of Wellington is pleased to support this new 80 unit affordable housing initiative for low income seniors,” said County of Wellington Warden Chris White. “This investment will make a lasting difference in our community. It’s important to provide local seniors with a safe, comfortable and affordable home, so they can continue living independently, close to their family and friends.”
The Residences of St. Joseph’s, an 80-unit project located at 401 Edinburgh Road North in Guelph received $9.6 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments.
The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest more than $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 Ontario, this represents some 237,750 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.
Ontario continues to build new affordable housing and repair existing units for Ontarians with housing needs. Since 2009, the provincial government has provided nearly$183 million to build new rental housing units for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. Ontario’s overall investment of over $2.5 billion has translated into the construction and repair of more than 270,000 housing units and the provision of 35,000 rent supplements for Ontario families on fixed incomes. The province’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy sets a strong foundation for a more efficient, accessible affordable housing system in Ontario.
Affordable housing is a key component of Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. Download a copy of the Government of Ontario’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy. To find out more about affordable housing in Ontario, visit www.ontario.ca/housing.
To find out more about how the Government of Canada and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642.
