Released on October 28, 2005
A family-friendly, affordable, rental housing project in Saskatoon is officially open for tenants thanks to federal, provincial and municipal funding.The newly-renovated apartment building, located in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood, provides easy access to childcare and employment development services with the goal of providing families who live there with the support that helps build a safe and healthy community.
"The Government of Canada is proud to be a part of this innovative approach to affordable housing for families and children," Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance, on behalf of Joe Fontana, Minister of Labour and Housing, said. "We are taking important strides toward reinvigorating Saskatoon's inner city. The federal government is committed to helping build stronger communities by working in partnership with local people and local groups to make sure lower-income families get the quality, affordable housing they need."
"This community-focused project will provide the people living there with the recognized long-term social and economic benefits which we know result from good quality housing," Saskatoon Fairview MLA Andy Iwanchuk, on behalf of Community Resources and Employment Minister Joanne Crofford said. "HomeFirst continues to effectively provide stable and affordable housing options to people in Saskatchewan."
"Here is another great renewal project happening in our core neighbourhoods," Mayor Donald Atchison said. "We're not only investing in a building, but in people, in a community, and in Saskatoon's future."
The project was undertaken by Quint Development Corporation of Saskatoon, which has received a national CMHC award for its innovation in providing affordable housing in the city. The building offers a total of 18 units for low-to-moderate income households and was supported by the Centenary Affordable Housing Program (CAHP), which is part of the Government of Saskatchewan's HomeFirst strategy.
Quint Development Corporation is a not-for-profit organization whose mandate is to enhance the social and economic well-being of Saskatoon's core neighbourhoods.
"With this initiative, we hope to create a place where tenants have good quality housing and also opportunities to become more involved with their neighbours and their community," Quint's Board of Directors chair Jacqui Barclay said. "This is part of a growing awareness that governments and local communities can work together to create long-term, meaningful improvements in our neighbourhoods."
The property is located at 137 Avenue T South, directly adjacent to another Quint apartment building acquired and renovated through a CAHP project in July 2003. This building, on Avenue U, provides space for a daycare, a common room, collective kitchens. It also provides office space for a Community Development worker, who facilitates the tenant associations and acts as a liaison with initiatives offered by Quint and other community development organizations. Both buildings include expanded green space as well as community garden space. The properties complement each other as residents from both buildings have access to the amenities through involvement with their tenant associations.
A one-time capital loan under CAHP for the purpose of acquiring and undertaking capital repairs and improvements was approved at $769,500 and consists of $373,315 from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), $319,235 from the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC), and $76,950 from the City of Saskatoon. Total project costs are $810,000.
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For More Information, Contact:
| Jamie Shanks Community Resources and Employment Regina Phone: (306) 787-4011 | Clare McWilliams CMHC Calgary Phone: (403) 515-2962 |