Government of Canada Invests in Affordable Housing and Shelter Space for Homeless Men in Peterborough

Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. That is why, in May 2018, the Government launched the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF), the largest program of its kind in Canadian history.

Today in Peterborough, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Member of Parliament for Peterborough – Kawartha, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), announced a $5.02 million financial commitment from the federal government for the redevelopment of the Brock  Mission.

With this commitment by the NHCF, a pillar initiative of the National Housing Strategy (NHS), and to the support of other partners, including the Province of Ontario and the City of Peterborough, this redevelopment will provide 15 new affordable units and 30 shelter beds for homeless and at-risk men.

Brock Mission Peterborough is a non-profit organization formed in 1987 to provide shelter for homeless adult males.  A second site, Cameron House, was added in 1996 to provide short-term emergency shelter for homeless women. The initial structure for the Brock Mission was a 40-bed shelter.

Quotes:

“Addressing housing and homelessness in our community will solve many of the other challenges we face. That’s why our government has invested in Canada’s first 10-year National Housing Strategy. My team and I have been working with several local groups to support building housing locally. Today, I’m happy to announce that the Brock Mission is receiving a significant boost to build 30 new shelter beds and 15 new affordable housing units for homeless and at-risk men. Our efforts to reduce poverty and grow the economy are working because we are relying on the expertise of communities. We are committed to reducing homelessness by 50 per cent in the next 10 years.”

“I am happy to see this investment in emergency shelter for Peterborough. We are facing a serious housing crisis and all levels of government must come together to make change. This is an important step in the right direction.”

“As a small grassroots charity faced with a big need, the support through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund has made a seemingly impossible task possible. We are so excited and grateful to be able to move forward with a purpose-built facility which includes shelter and supportive housing for some of our most vulnerable homeless citizens, made possible because of the support from CMHC”

Quick facts:

• All 15 of the Brock Mission Redevelopment’s rental housing units will be affordable.
• The new building aims to achieve energy savings and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of 27% compared to the National Energy Code for Buildings 2015.
• Four of the housing units will be accessible, as will eight of the shelter beds.
• The Government of Canada is currently rolling out its National Housing Strategy (NHS), an ambitious 10-year, $55 billion plan that will create 100,000 new housing units and lift 530,000 families out of housing need, as well as repair and renew more than 300,000 housing units and reduce chronic homelessness by 50 percent.
• With a budget of $13.2 billion, NHCF gives priority to projects that help those in greatest need, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, those dealing with mental health and addictions, Veterans and young adults.
• Through the NHCF, the Government of Canada will work with partners to build up to 60,000 new affordable homes and repair up to 240,000 existing affordable and community homes over the next 10 years.
• Investments are also planned in the NHCF to create or repair at least 4,000 shelter spaces for victims of family violence and create at least 7,000 new affordable housing units for seniors and 2,400 new affordable housing units for people with developmental disabilities.
• Under the Investing in Canada plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

Associated links:

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, follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit www.placetocallhome.ca.

Information on this release:

Valérie Glazer
Press secretary
Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
613-220-1841
valerie.glazer@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Spencer Magee
Public Affairs
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
647-244-0040
smagee@cmhc.ca