Centre - Terry Sheehan, M.P. for Sault Ste. Marie and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, Far Right – Mayor Christian Provenzano, Mayor of Sault Ste. Marie, Left – MPP Ross Romano, Back – Minister Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Office of Terry Sheehan

Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie

For Immediate Release

September 3, 2020

Canada and Ontario Invest in Affordable Housing for

Seniors in Sault Ste. Marie

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario – Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing over $1 million in a new affordable housing development in Sault Ste. Marie to provide seniors at risk of homelessness with the housing and support services they deserve.

The former Rosedale Public School, located at 90 Chapple Avenue, is being transformed into a nine-unit housing development. It will include a community hub for local social services, a gymnasium, a childcare centre and an EarlyON Child and Family Centre. The building, adjacent to a municipal park, also includes wider halls, automatic entrance doors, and one fully accessible unit.

The project will be partially funded through the joint federal and provincial Investment in Affordable Housing program (IAH) and Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI). Both programs give local communities the flexibility to address their local housing needs by funding new rental construction, home repairs, housing allowances, rent supplements or home ownership.

Funding like this helps those most in need find stable housing and access to support services, such as counselling, addiction services and life-skills training.

Quotes

“Our Government is committed to working with Ontario to develop and implement local solutions to housing here in Sault Ste. Marie. This investment is helping local residents access the safe and affordable housing that meets their needs and they can afford.”

– Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament, Sault Ste. Marie

“Ontario is working hard to build a strong community housing system that supports our most vulnerable citizens. Converting an old school building into much-needed affordable housing is a great example of this community finding creative and flexible solutions to increase housing options for seniors in Sault Ste. Marie.”

– Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

“Now more than ever, it is important that we come together to support our seniors. We recognize and honour their knowledge, experience and the contributions they have made – and continue to make – to build the province that we enjoy today. This investment will help to ensure that older adults have the opportunity to age in their community and remain healthy, active and socially engaged.”

– Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility

“This investment in Sault Ste. Marie will help those in need find stable housing and access to support services, such as counselling, addiction services and life-skills training. This is an innovative and flexible solution – and I congratulate all those who have been involved with the Rosedale project for their commitment to improving the lives of others."

– Ross Romano, Member of Provincial Parliament, Sault Ste. Marie

Quick Facts

• The Investment in Affordable Housing Program provides funding for affordable housing projects across Ontario. The Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative builds on the success of the Investment in Affordable Housing program and addresses local priorities in the areas of housing supply and affordability.
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• Funding for the child care centre and the EarlyON Child and Family Centre is being delivered through the Community-Based Early Years and Child Care Capital Program (CBCP). The child care centre is receiving $930,000 in funding to help provide up to 49 child care spaces. The EarlyON Child and Family Centre is receiving $620,000 in funding to help provide free, high-quality programs for families and children from birth to 6 years old.
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• The Government of Canada is currently rolling out its National Housing Strategy (NHS), an ambitious 10-year, $55 billion plan that will create 125,000 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 percent.

• As part of the Community Housing Renewal Strategy, the Ontario government is investing nearly $1 billion in 2020-21, which will help sustain, repair and grow community housing and help end homelessness in Ontario.

• 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.
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• Ontario is providing $510 million in funding to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and keep vulnerable people safe. This includes funding to local service managers and Indigenous program administrators who were given the flexibility to expand the key services they already offer to meet their local needs, including supporting people who are having difficulty paying rent.

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.
• Ontario is committed to increasing housing supply across the province, while getting the best value for taxpayers. Cutting red tape will bring housing to market faster – leading to lower housing costs and helping people keep more of their hard-earned dollars. For more information on affordable housing in Ontario, visit ontario.ca/affordablehousing or follow us on Twitter
• To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit www.placetocallhome.ca.

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Information on this release:

 Jessica Eritou

Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

[email protected]

Julie O'Driscoll

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Julie.O'[email protected]

Wilbur McLean

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

416-218-3331

[email protected]

Conrad Spezowka

Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Communications Branch

[email protected]