More affordable housing - using shipping containers!

Submitted by Jacky Durrie

Hello neighbours, here are a few examples of projects that were almost ready to go and they just needed a little cash from the National Housing Strategy. These projects are new construction only and demonstrate innovation as well as partnerships with like minded non-profit organizations. Who would you like to form an alliance with?

From Kent Hehr’s newsletter:

The affordable housing news continues! I was thrilled to be in beautiful Banff yesterday, announcing a $10 million investment in Alberta's housing.

Our national Liberal government is supporting 8 energy-efficient shipping container projects across the province. Phase 1 will create up to 467 rental units.

The Banff YWCA Courtyard Project is at the top of the list. In fact, they are the very first group to receive funding under our national Housing Innovation Fund.

Soon, their 33 unit, 3-story project will provide rental housing for up to 78 at-risk women. At least 4 units will be wheelchair accessible.

This is in addition to the $6 million we're investing in YWCA Calgary's new home in Inglewood, as well as the $13.6 million we're putting towards a 161-unit affordable apartment building in Calgary's Glamorgan community. It's all part of our game-changing national affordable housing plan.

While we're talking about Banff, I'll note that last week was the grand opening of the Ti'nu affordable rental housing complex. It too received support from our federal government. It adds 131 brand new affordable homes to the community, including 8 barrier-free units.

I want to commend Banff YWCA and the Alberta Rural Development Network (ARDN) for their leadership on their shipping container project, and for championing bold new ideas and construction techniques. It's especially noteworthy that ARDN designed the housing model to be easy to replicate across the country, saving future costs and building off of lessons learned.

Project by project, our government is bringing affordable housing to Alberta.

After a decade of inaction by the previous federal government, this type of major investment in affordable housing is long overdue.

Sincerely,
Kent Hehr
Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre

An interview with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

Submitted by Jacky Durry

Hey all,

Here’s a link that may interest you.

The recording of our popular webinar held last week with Adam Vaughan is now available online.

Adam Vaughan is the MP for Spadina-Fort York and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. As such, he is one of the key architects behind Canada’s new National Housing Strategy. He is also a strong advocate for co-operative housing.

Among several important topics he touched upon in this one-hour webinar, Vaughan said that eligible Section 95 housing co-ops will be hearing from CMHC about the 2018 subsidy extension in the next couple of weeks.

Asked by CHF Canada Director, Strategic Affairs Tim Ross about the potential for more co-op housing development, Vaughan said that co-ops should get into “build mode” and pitch for as much of the new federal funding as possible. "Co-ops don't have to replicate the previous model,” he added. "We're diversifying the toolkit and the financial supports to make a whole new generation of opportunities materialize."

CHF Canada thanks Adam Vaughan for this open and helpful discussion with housing co-op members and supporters.

Cheers,

Jacky