The seasonally adjusted annual rate¹ of housing starts was 197,300 units in March 2010, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Seasonally adjusted annual rate estimates of housing start activity were also revised up for January and February². This resulted in month-over-month gains of 7.5 per cent in January (189,000 units), 6 per cent in February (200,400 units), and a slight decrease of 1.5 per cent in March.

“The moderation in March housing starts was due to a decrease in the volatile multiple starts segment. Helping to offset this was an increase in singles starts as well as more activity in rural areas,” said Bob Dugan, Chief Economist at CMHC’s Market Analysis Centre.

The seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts decreased by 4.2 per cent to 175,200 units in March. Urban multiple starts decreased by 15.2 per cent to 77,500 units while single urban starts increased by 6.9 per cent to 97,700 units.

March’s seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts increased by 13.5 per cent in Quebec and by 7.3 per cent in the Prairie region, but decreased by 16.3 per cent in British Columbia, by 15.5 per cent in Ontario, and by 8 per cent in Atlantic Canada.

Rural starts were estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 22,100 units in March³.

As Canada’s national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of high quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable homes. CMHC also provides reliable, impartial and up-to-date housing market reports, analysis and knowledge to support and assist consumers and the housing industry in making vital decisions.

The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the City of North Bay today celebrated an official opening and ground breaking of two new affordable rental projects. The projects are supported by $380,000 in funding through the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program.

Cheryl Gallant, Member of Parliament for Renfrew – Nipissing – Pembroke, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the Honourable Monique Smith, Ontario’s Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Member of Provincial Parliament for Nipissing, on behalf of Jim Bradley, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Victor Fedeli, Mayor of the City of North Bay; and George Jupp, Chair of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administrative Board (DNSSAB) made the announcement.

“Our government is committed to giving a hand up to Canadians who need some help,” said MP Cheryl Gallant. “In these tough economic times, Canada’s Economic Action Plan is providing Canadians with the opportunities, skills, jobs and help they need so they can contribute and strengthen our communities.”

“Ontario is committed to helping people who live on lower or fixed incomes stay in their home communities,” said Nipissing MPP Monique Smith. “These 16 new affordable rental units are going to make a positive difference to the families living here, and an excellent addition to the community.”

Today’s announcement celebrates the official opening of The Pines at 2469 Trout Lake Road, and the groundbreaking of Cam’s Place at 240 Kingsway Avenue East. The Pines is a 12-unit project sponsored by the Girard-Johnson group, and is occupied    by families living on low to moderate incomes. Cam’s Place is a four-unit project for persons with disabilities, and is sponsored by Lorraine Venasse, Sonia Vigna, and Lynda Ceppetelli.

“We know that we need 1,000 affordable homes in the area, and the opening of the new facility on Trout Lake Road is part of 117 units we committed to last year.  This is the only example in Ontario where the feds, the province, and the municipalities came together to make it happen”, said North Bay Mayor Victor Fedeli.  He added, “The Girard units are a wonderful addition to the city – they are the new face of Affordable housing.” (TBC)

“This is our second successful affordable housing project developed through a private-public partnership with Mr. Girard. The DNSSAB is delighted to be at the table and contributing to increasing the supply of affordable housing in North Bay,” said Chair George Jupp.  “The need for supportive housing in our community has never been greater. Cam’s Place is a unique homeownership model that will ensure that these boys will always have a place to call home that is safe and affordable.” (TBC)

“I would like to thank the Federal and Provincial governments and the City of North Bay for their incentive on this project. Without financial help this would not have been possible. I hope that the Canada Ontario Affordable Housing program will continue as North Bay is still in need of many more units like these,” said Ron Girard, proponent for The Pines.

“This home will provide our family with the peace of mind that Bryan will have a place to live in a neighbourhood within the community and with his friends in a family setting,” said Cam Ceppetelli, one of the sponsors of the project.

The Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement comprises a commitment of $301 million from each of the two senior levels of government. In total, the federal, provincial and municipal governments will invest at least $734 million in the program, which will provide affordable housing for up to 20,000 households in Ontario.

In 2008, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over the next five years to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless. Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on this with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing and lending of up to another $2 billion to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. Combined for Ontario, this means a further $1.2 billion joint investment under the amended Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment.

The Government of Canada announced today that two housing co-operatives in the Amherstburg and Windsor areas will receive more than $600,000, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, as part of the social housing renovation and retrofit investments.

The announcement was made at the Rosewood Crescent Housing Co-operative by Jeff Watson, Member of Parliament for Essex, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is taking action to help ensure our economic recovery and create the conditions for long-term growth,” said MP Watson. “Funding renovation and retrofit projects, like this one, will not only improve the quality of life of its residents by keeping their homes safe and affordable, but it will also help stimulate the local economy and create local jobs.”

The Government of Canada, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, announced $1 billion for social housing renovation and retrofit. Of the $1 billion, $850 million is being delivered by provinces and territories on a cost-matched basis for existing federally assisted social housing projects which they administer on behalf of the partnership. The remaining $150 million is being delivered by CMHC for existing federally assisted off-reserve housing which it directly administers. Eligible repairs include general improvements, energy efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications in support of persons with disabilities.

The housing co-operatives that will receive contributions from the Government of Canada being announced today are:
Rosewood Crescent Co-operative Housing Inc. (Amherstburg) $169,753
Border City Co-operative Homes Inc. (Windsor) $448,000

“We congratulate and thank the federal government, MP Watson and CMHC for making a sound investment to help ensure that this affordable community is preserved as a legacy for the long-term benefit of its residents,” said Ken Elliott, President of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada. “Today’s announcement is an excellent example of stimulus funding that works towards preserving jobs, assisting the local economy, and protecting valuable affordable housing assets for Canadians.”

“We are very pleased to be receiving the Renovation and Retrofit grant through Canada’s Economic Action Plan to improve our cooperative,” said Kim Klyn, Corporate Secretary, Rosewood Crescent Housing Co-operative. “These significant renovations will have a tremendous positive impact for our members and their quality of life.”

“We are very pleased to be working with CMHC and the Government of Canada on the Renovation and Retrofit grant through Canada’s Economic Action Plan”, said Anna Angelidis, Executive Director, Labour Sponsored Community Development Group, on behalf of Border City Co-operative Homes Inc. “This grant not only stimulates the local economy, but it also provides for a healthier, safer and more energy efficient home environment for the current and future members of Border City co-op.”

The Government of Canada announced today that a housing co-operative located in Orangeville will receive more than $187,000 through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, as part of the social housing renovation and retrofit investments.

The announcement was made by David Tilson, Member of Parliament for Dufferin – Caledon, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is taking action to help ensure our economic recovery and create the conditions for long-term growth,” said MP Tilson. “Funding renovation and retrofit projects, like this one, will not only improve the quality of life of its residents by keeping their homes safe and affordable, but it will also help stimulate the local economy and create local jobs.”

The Government of Canada, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, announced $1 billion for social housing renovation and retrofit. Of the $1 billion, $850 million is being delivered by provinces and territories on a cost-matched basis for existing federally assisted social housing projects which they administer on behalf of the partnership. The remaining $150 million is being delivered by CMHC for existing federally assisted off-reserve housing which it directly administers. Eligible repairs include general improvements, energy efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications in support of persons with disabilities.

The housing co-operative that will receive a contribution from the Government of Canada being announced today is Shaw’s Creek Co-operative Homes Inc.

“We congratulate and thank the federal government, MP Tilson and CMHC for making a sound investment to help ensure that this affordable community is preserved as a legacy for the long-term benefit of its residents,“ said Ken Elliott, President of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada. “Today’s announcement is an excellent example of stimulus funding that works towards preserving jobs, assisting the local economy, and protecting valuable affordable housing assets for Canadians.”

“We are delighted that our co-operative will benefit from the federal government’s renovation and retrofit initiative delivered by CMHC,” said Robert Dicks, Vice-President of Shaw’s Creek Co-operative Homes Inc. in Orangeville. “Not only will this funding make our co-op more energy efficient, but it will ensure that the homes at Shaw’s Creek Co-operative Homes Inc. are available to meet the needs of future generations.”

Pierre Lemieux, Member of Parliament for Glengarry – Prescott – Russell, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Jean-Marc Lalonde, Member of Provincial Parliament for Glengarry – Prescott – Russell on behalf of Jim Bradley, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; along with Conrad Lamadeleine, Warden of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, Jeanne Charlebois, Mayor of the Town of Hawkesbury, made the announcement.

“Our government is providing a hand up to those Canadians who need it the most,” said MP Pierre Lemieux. “We’re committed to making communities stronger through projects like this one here in Hawkesbury. These investments in local infrastructure will help create new jobs stimulate the local economy.”

“The province is committed to helping people who live on lower or fixed incomes stay in their home communities,” said MPP Jean-Marc Lalonde. “These 24 new affordable rental units are going to make a positive difference in the lives of the individuals living here, and make an excellent addition to the Town of Hawkesbury.”

The 24-unit project located at 300 Nelson Street received $2.88 million in funding through the two-year extension of the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program and is sponsored by the Brisson/Labelle Partnership. The building will be occupied by individuals living on low incomes, including persons with disabilities and special needs.

“It is living proof that with partnerships between various levels of governments and the private sector, we can achieve important projects like this one and this participation will allow our community to enjoy more affordable housing,” said Warden Conrad Lamadeleine.

“We welcome this new housing development in our town and we congratulate Mr. Marc-André Labelle, Mr. Dominic Labelle and Mr. Jean-Luc Brisson for the opportunity they are offering our residents seeking affordable housing” said Mayor Jeanne Charlebois.

The Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement comprises a commitment of $301 million from each of the two senior levels of government. In total, the federal, provincial and municipal governments will invest at least $734 million in the program, which will provide affordable housing for up to 20,000 households in Ontario.

In 2008, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over the next five years to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless. Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on this with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing and lending of up to another $2 billion to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. Combined for Ontario, this means a further $1.2-billion joint investment under the amended Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment.

Ontario is moving quickly to get new housing built. The province has already approved more than $224 million for construction-ready projects, which will improve access to affordable housing for low-income families, seniors and persons with disabilities across the province. It will also create jobs and strengthen local economies. To find out more about affordable housing in Ontario, visit www.mah.gov.on.ca.
Posted by Moishe Alexander.

The vacancy rate among apartments with at least three units (3+) in the Thunder Bay Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) inched up to 2.3 per cent in October 2009, from 2.2 per cent last year, according to Rental Market Survey (RMS) data released in December by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). (See Table 1.1.1) With the October vacancy rate’s slight increase, Thunder Bay now becomes the CMA with the tenth lowest vacancy rate for 33 centres with populations over 100,000 in Canada. Northern Ontario’s other major centre, Sudbury saw its rate rise to 2.9 per cent from 0.7 per cent last year. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Northwestern Ontario, Kenora’s vacancy rate declined to 0.8 per cent from 1.7 per cent in October 2008.

The vacancy rate in Thunder Bay was up only slightly this year as several opposing forces came into play. Improvement in homeownership affordability caused by falling interest rates has encouraged some renters to become homeowners. Low ownership costs in Thunder Bay combined with rising apartment rents reduced the relative cost of homeownership – dampening demand for rental accommodation. There are other factors that have added to rental demand and exerted downward pressure on vacancy rates. Although there has been a long-term out-migration amongst the 18 to 24 renter aged group, important trends emerged recently. Employment in the service sector and 18-24 age groups have held up reasonably well, possibly exerting slight upward pressure on rental demand, as young adults are more likely to rent rather than own. Overall, employment has fallen 5.5 per cent over the past year between the 2008 and 2009 surveys. However, the brunt of the job losses has been in the goods-producing sector and the 25-44 age group, arguably sectors not directly associated with rental demand. Next, demand coming from students in post-secondary institutions has increased rental demand. Enrolment in post-secondary institutions has been growing in Thunder Bay. Less space in student housing has caused spillover in the private market creating demand for units located in proximity to Lakehead University and Confederation College. Laid off workers returning to school as mature students are creating additional demand for private rentals. In addition, recent data has indicated no new sources of rental supply. Going back to 1998, there have been few rental completions added to the supply of rental units in Thunder Bay.

The availability rate1 is a slightly broader measure of what landlords have available to market to prospective tenants. The availability rate refers to the percentage of apartments that are either vacant or for which the existing tenant has given or received notice to move. Once again, availability rates moved in the same direction as the vacancy rate in Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay’s availability rate rose to 3.1 per cent from 2.7 per cent in 2008. Only one of the 15 metropolitan areas in Ontario had a lower availability rate than Thunder Bay, namely Kingston (2.5 per cent). Higher availability rates are a result of higher turnover. (See Table 1.4.)

The Barrie CMA rental market experienced softer conditions in 2009. The average vacancy rate for purpose- built rental apartments rose up by 0.3 percentage points this year to 3.8 percent. Several factors contributed to easing demand, including a rebound in homeownership demand and high youth unemployment. Continued moderate migration into Barrie supported demand.

Supply, also, was virtually unchanged, increasing by only 15 units. There were no new purpose-built apartments, but the number of units in the existing universe increased for a variety of reasons.

With a softer rental market the growth in average monthly rent for a two-bedroom unit slowed significantly from last year and came in at 1.2 per cent, well the below the maximum rent increase stipulated by the province.

The economic adjustment has affected employment prospects in Barrie for all age cohorts, but in particular the youngest age cohort of 15-24. This group makes up a significant proportion of Barrie’s labour force, given the region’s overall young population and is also a key source of rental demand. The proportion of the labour force in Barrie made up by the 15-24 year-old age group this year has averaged close to 20 per cent. Both full-time employment and part-time employment for this age group have been trending down. With a slowly recovering economy, young people who had been renting returned to the parental home or doubled up with other youth, while those currently living with parents are staying at home until the economy recovers further.

The rate of migration into Barrie has slowed. Nevertheless migration into Barrie from within Ontario is higher than it is in most other Ontario centres. Moveover, slightly fewer people are moving away from Barrie to other parts of the country. Immigration and births added to the slower, but still significant, population growth rate. A growing and relatively young population continues to support rental demand.

With mortgage carrying costs down due to record-low mortgage rates, first-time buyers have exited rental into homeownership thereby increasing the overall vacancy rate.

The decline in mortgage rates in 2009 put mortgage carrying costs back to where they were in 2006. These payments hit a low in the second quarter, which coincided with an improvement in the employment prospects for the 25-44 year old age group. This is the same age group from which many first-time buyers are drawn, so the surge in existing home sales beginning in the second quarter likely included many purchases by people who were renting at the time.

Renters who move into homeownership usually have relatively high incomes compared to other renters and often occupy the larger, more expensive rental accommodation before their move. Given the significance of the secondary rental market in Barrie, in particular, the number of rented single-detached homes, a number of first-time buyers would be coming from the secondary rental market. As a result, the movement to home ownership in Barrie resulted in a relatively small increase in the primary rental market vacancy rate since some the impact was absorbed in the secondary rental market.

Funding of $420,000 for six new affordable housing rental units for seniors living on low income was announced today in Glencoe.

Bev Shipley, Member of Parliament for Lambton – Kent – Middlesex, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Maria Van Bommel, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Children and Youth Services and Member of Provincial Parliament for Lambton – Kent – Middlesex, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Watson, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; along with Doug Reycraft, Mayor of the Municipality of Southwest Middlesex made the announcement.

“The Government of Canada is helping Canadians during these tough economic times and giving hope to seniors who need quality, affordable housing that meets their needs,” said MP Shipley. “This investment is possible through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government’s plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession. For Ontario, this includes a $1.2 billion joint investment.”

“New housing initiatives add significant support to the McGuinty government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy,” said MPP Van Bommel. “We will continue to work with our municipal partners to ensure more units are built during the life of this program.”

“The six new affordable housing units in this eight-unit building are a welcome addition to our rental stock in Southwest Middlesex,” said Mayor Reycraft. “I have heard from several seniors who are eagerly awaiting the completion of the apartment building. The investment by the federal and provincial governments, and by Sundip and Melissa Bajaj, in these affordable units is great news.”

The Government of Canada wants to ensure that Canadians on fixed incomes can live with independence and dignity and remain in their communities, close to family and friends. Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides $400 million, over two years, to build new rental housing for low-income seniors. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for new and existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada’s commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over the next five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless.

Today’s announcement celebrates funding for six new affordable rental units at 173 Main Street in Glencoe. The project is sponsored by Sundip and Melissa Bajaj.

Highlights – Gatineau

According to the results of the latest CMHC Rental Market Survey, the rental housing vacancy rate in the Quebec part of the Ottawa-Gatineau CMA reached 2.2 per cent in October 2009, up by 0.3 of a percentage point over a year earlier. The rental market therefore eased but still remained relatively tight. The proportion of vacant units in the metropolitan area was in fact slightly lower than the average for Quebec overall (2.3 per cent). The relative stability of the vacancy rate in the Gatineau area was attributable to the fact that the continued homeownership trend was counterbalanced by strong migration.

Gatineau was not the only area where the rental market showed little change, however, as this was also the case in the Montréal, Québec and Saguenay CMAs. On the other hand, conditions eased in Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières, two areas where the job losses among young people slowed the rate of household formation. Lastly, in the Ontario part of the Ottawa-Gatineau CMA, the proportion of vacant units remained below the level recorded in Gatineau, rising from 1.4 per cent in October 2008 to 1.5 per cent a year later.

The small rise in the vacancy rate recorded in the Gatineau area was due in part to the job losses that occurred over the past year. Following a particularly good year for job creation in 2008, with an annual gain of more than 5 per cent, the first ten months of 2009 were marked by the elimination of some 5,000 positions compared to the average level for 2008. As is often the case in difficult economic times, the youngest workers sustained the greatest losses, with the average number of jobs among people aged from 15 to 24 years falling by about 4,000 between 2008 and 2009. The slightly tougher labour market conditions therefore limited household formation in this age group and removed some pressure on rental housing demand.

The homeownership trend also contributed to the increase in the vacancy rate in 2009. Despite the economic uncertainties that prevailed at the beginning of the year, the low mortgage rates and the contribution of the public service to the regional economy helped maintain housing starts at high levels. As well, the Gatineau area saw the construction of record numbers of row homes, semi- detached houses and condominium apartments–all housing types that are more affordable than single-detached homes and often preferred by renters accessing homeownership.

However, migration limited the easing of the rental market. In fact, the latest migration data released by Statistics Canada revealed that, between 2007 and 2008, there were 2,800 more in-migrants than out-migrants. It should be specified that, just like in previous years, it was the international component of net migration that contributed the most to the demand for rental housing. During this period, more than 1,000 new residents came from abroad. This trend likely continued in 2008/2009.

Just like the overall metropolitan area, the Aylmer sector did not register a significant change in its vacancy rate compared to October 2008. It should be noted that Aylmer was the sector with the highest proportion of unoccupied apartments in the Gatineau area. In fact, 5 per cent of the apartments there did not have occupants this past fall, compared to 5.2 per cent a year earlier. In the other sectors, the vacancy rates all varied within a narrow range from 1.6 per cent to 2.6 per cent. The difference between these rates and the rate in Aylmer was likely due, firstto the higher rents in this sector and, second, to the steady homeownership trend there. In fact, Aylmer registered the largest volume of homeowner housing starts in the area. A number of renters who already lived in this sector certainly contributed to the surge in property sales there and to the fact that Aylmer once again had the highest proportion of vacant rental units in the metropolitan area.

In Hull, which has more than half of all the rental housing units in the Gatineau area, the vacancy rate remained unchanged, at 1.6 per cent, in October 2009. The popularity of this sector is attributable to its proximity to Canada’s capital and to the presence of institutions of higher learning. Despite the job losses observed among young people since the fall of 2008, which may have caused some not to renew their leases in July, the increase in student enrolment at the Cégep de l’Outaouais and the Université du Québec en Outaouais seems to have helped landlords rent out their available units. In fact, enrolment at these two institutions rose again this past fall. The gain was 3.3 per cent at the Université du Québec en Outaouais while, at the Cégep de l’Outaouais, enrolment reached a record level, mainly thanks to the recent addition of new health programs.

In the Gatineau sector, the proportion of vacant apartments reached 2.6 per cent in October 2009, up from 1.7 per cent in October 2008. Market conditions also eased in the outlying area, where the percentage of unoccupied units rose from 1.3 per cent in the fall of 2008 to 2.3 per cent this past fall. The arrival of many apartments in these sectors during the last year increased the supply of units. In fact, 87 rental dwellings were added in the outlying area between July 2008 and June 2009, compared to 16 the year before. The continued homeownership trend also caused some rental housing units to be vacated, a number of which were still unoccupied in October 2009.

Funding of $6.6 million for 132 new affordable housing rental units for seniors living on low income was announced today in Thunder Bay.

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC); Bill Mauro, Member of Provincial Parliament for Thunder Bay – Atikokan, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Watson, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Councillor Joe Virdiramo, Secretary – Treasurer of The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB); City of Thunder Bay Councillor Brian McKinnon; along with Tracy Buckler, President & CEO of St. Joseph’s Care Group made the announcement.

“The Government of Canada is helping Canadians during these tough economic times and giving hope to seniors who need quality, affordable housing that meets their needs,” said Minister Finley. “This investment is possible through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government’s plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession. For Ontario, this includes a $1.2 billion joint investment.”

“Today’s announcement positions Thunder Bay as a community with the full continuum of health care for seniors,” said Bill Mauro, MPP Thunder Bay – Atikokan. “Supportive housing has long been viewed as the missing piece, and today we have addressed that component in a very big way.”

“The TBDSSAB is pleased that the vision of a Centre of Excellence for Integrated Seniors’ Services is one step closer to being realized. Through service integration and partnership, the 132 unit supportive housing project will improve the quality of services to seniors, allowing them to maintain their independence while receiving necessary supports to age in place,” said Joe Virdiramo, Secretary – Treasurer, The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board.

“Thunder Bay welcomes the Federal and Provincial support for this exciting aspect of the Centre of Excellence for Integrated Seniors’ Services,” said Mayor Lynn Peterson. “Supportive housing allows our seniors to live independently and gain better access to the health care services they need.”

“This 132-unit Supportive Housing building is a vital element to ensure the continuum of care model as envisioned during the Centre of Excellence for Integrated Seniors’ Services (CEISS) project planning. We know that seniors would prefer to live independently in an apartment setting if they are able. This project will permit more seniors to age in place while receiving the assistance they require,” said Tracy Buckler, President & CEO, St. Joseph’s Care Group and Co-Chair of the CEISS Steering Committee.

The Government of Canada wants to ensure that Canadians on fixed incomes can live with independence and dignity and remain in their communities, close to family and friends. Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides $400 million, over two years, to build new rental housing for low-income seniors. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for new and existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada’s commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over the next five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless.

Today’s announcement celebrates funding for the 132-unit Centre of Excellence for Integrated Seniors’ Services project at 300 Lillie Street North. The project is sponsored by St. Joseph’s Care Group.