Released on November 17, 2017
The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are partnering with Habitat for Humanity to help a Moose Jaw family secure a quality, affordable home.Today, Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Moose Jaw North Warren Michelson, on behalf of Social Services Minister and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) Paul Merriman, officially launched the construction of the project located at 1160 - 1st Avenue Northeast.
“The Government of Canada is proud to help support this family’s journey to homeownership,” said Goodale. “There is a great deal of work and co-operation that takes place during Habitat for Humanity builds and it’s completely worth it. We are literally laying the foundation of a new chapter in their lives, and I’m looking forward to the day we stand in front of this building to celebrate its grand opening. We are creating stronger, more prosperous communities—one home at a time.”
“This project will help a local family start a rewarding life in our community, and it starts today,” Michelson said. “All of the sponsors and volunteers represented here today and the federal and provincial governments are the driving force behind this build. This is a part of what keeping Saskatchewan strong is all about, and our government is proud to support Habitat’s work.”
“We are very proud of our Moose Jaw Chapter,” Habitat for Humanity Regina Chief Executive Officer Kelly Holmes-Binns said. “The work the board has done alongside donors, sponsors, volunteers and of course the families has been life-changing for so many. To now be working on the seventh and eighth Habitat Moose Jaw homes is truly amazing and as an organization we would like to express our most sincere thanks for all of the support we’ve received to make this possible.”
Quick facts:
- The project will consist of a three-bedroom, two-storey home. Together, the main and upper floors of the home will total approximately 1,400 square feet or 130 square metres. The Government of Canada, through CMHC, along with the Government of Saskatchewan, through SHC, jointly contributed $50,000 to build the home through the Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) Agreement.
- The province’s overall commitment to Habitat for Humanity totals $9.85 million since March 2009. Of this amount, the federal and provincial governments have invested $2 million, thanks to the Social Infrastructure Fund, under the two most recent agreements between Saskatchewan and Habitat for Humanity.
- This investment supports Saskatchewan’s Poverty Reduction Strategy goal of ensuring Saskatchewan people have access to affordable, safe, secure and stable housing.
- Each partner family selected by Habitat for Humanity contributes 500 partnering hours in building their home or other Habitat homes. The family purchases their home at fair market value, paying an interest-free, zero down-payment mortgage set at 25 per cent of their annual gross income. To learn more about Habitat for Humanity and their work across Saskatchewan, visit www.habitat.ca.
- 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, please call 1-800-668-2642 or follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.
- In October 2012, the Government of Saskatchewan released the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth: Vision 2020 and Beyond, which sets out the government’s vision for a province of 1.2 million people by 2020. The plan identifies principles, goals and actions to ensure Saskatchewan is capturing the opportunities and meeting the challenges of a growing province. Since 2007, the Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $770 million to develop or repair almost 16,000 housing units across our province. To learn more, visit www.saskatchewan.ca.
For more information, contact:
Émilie Gauduchon
Office of Minister Duclos
Ottawa
Phone: 819-654-5546
Email: Emilie.Gauduchon@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Gabriel Teo
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Vancouver
Phone: 604-737-4137
Email: gteo@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
Leya Moore
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0246
Email: leya.moore@gov.sk.ca