PROVINCE SUPPORTS HOUSING PROJECT IN PRINCE ALBERT

Released on November 21, 2008

In celebration of National Housing Day, construction of a student housing project officially began with a sod turning ceremony in Prince Albert today. The project will provide good quality, safe and affordable rental accommodation for 36 low-income families, many of them Aboriginal, who have a member attending SIAST Woodland Campus.

"Our government is committed to creating a better life for Saskatchewan people through affordable, accessible housing," Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer said. "The development of affordable housing, such as this project, is a key component in ensuring that all Saskatchewan people benefit from our prosperous economy. This project will provide a stable place for people to live proudly as they pursue their educational goals, and help meet the affordable housing needs of this community."

"Supporting post-secondary students is vital to meeting Saskatchewan's talent challenge," Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris said. "By providing affordable housing for students and their families, this project will help SIAST provide our province with the skilled workers we need to meet the demands of our growing economy."

"National Housing Day is being observed today in recognition of local efforts to motivate others to become involved in helping to produce affordable housing," Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister and Prince Albert Carlton MLA Darryl Hickie said. "We are pleased to work with our partners on projects such as this one in Prince Albert, and look forward to more affordable housing partnership opportunities in the future."

The student family housing project is expected to draw a significant number of families from northern Saskatchewan, where a high proportion of the population is Aboriginal. As a result, the project should further increase the participation of Aboriginal students in post-secondary education.

"We recognize and understand the challenge SIAST Woodland Campus families face when seeking affordable housing," Prince Albert Mayor Jim Scarrow said. "This project meets a real need for affordable housing and will enable 36 families to gain new employment skills while being provided with safe, affordable, quality accommodations. As Mayor of Prince Albert, I am truly pleased to see this project move forward."

"This family housing project advances two key SIAST goals - improving access to programs and supporting student success," SIAST president and CEO Dr. Bob McCulloch said. "Only through strategic partnerships with organizations such as Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, the Northern Lights Community Development Corporation, Cameco and the Prince Albert Grand Council, have we been able to move forward."

By enhancing access to affordable housing, thus enabling students to bring their dependents to the city when they move here to study, the project will ultimately support academic success. It will build on SIAST's already impressive Aboriginal student enrolment results. Currently, across SIAST, 18.5 per cent of students are Aboriginal; at SIAST Woodland Campus, 47 per cent of students are Aboriginal.

The project will cost approximately $6,875,941 in total. Of that amount, the Province, through Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, is contributing about $3,456,000. The City of Prince Albert will be providing $180,000 with the funding balance from SIAST and others.

The student housing project will consist of 36 two-bedroom rental units, two of which will be wheelchair accessible. Each unit will cost approximately $560 per month. Construction will be completed in fall 2009.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Linda Saliken
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0246

Lisa Danyluk
Advanced Education, Employment and Labour
Regina
Phone: 306-787-7791

Joan Corneil
City of Prince Albert
Prince Albert
Phone: 306-953-4370

Clayton Cunningham
SIAST
Prince Albert
Phone: 306-765-1653