Riverbank stabilization for Winnipeg seniors’ co-op

Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, the Honourable Rochelle Squires, Minister of Families Minister, the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Member of Parliament for Saint-Boniface – Saint-Vital, Councillor Jason Schreyer, City of Winnipeg, and Marc Dufault, President of Columbus House, announced a combined investment of nearly $1 million to support the urgent repairs to stabilize the riverbank of the Red River from encroaching on Columbus House, a seniors’ co-operative in Winnipeg.

The Government of Canada is contributing a federal investment of $585,000 through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF). Additionally, the City of Winnipeg is investing $200,000 through the Land Dedication Reserve Fund, and Columbus Centennial Seniors Cooperative Housing Ltd. is providing $20,000 cash equity towards the repair work.

Manitoba Housing provides an annual subsidy (subject to potential renewal after April 2025) that is adjusted annually and currently amounts to $176,328.

Columbus House is a six-story apartment building, with 40 one-bedroom and 30 two-bedroom homes for vulnerable seniors.

Construction was completed June 30, 2021.

Quotes:

“Our government remains committed to helping seniors in Winnipeg and throughout the country. Urgent flood mitigation projects like this one are ensuring these seniors continue to have a safe and affordable place to call home. Funding repair projects like these ones are a great way to get the local economy moving, because it puts construction workers and tradespeople to work quickly. This is the National Housing Strategy at work.”

“The Manitoba Government is committed to sustaining and improving our existing social, affordable and co-operative housing for seniors, and values its ongoing partnership with Columbus House.”

“This newly fortified riverbank will ensure residents of the Columbus House and the surrounding community remain protected from potential flooding, making the community more resilient to changes posed by our changing climate. By working together, we are investing in the necessary work to proactively prevent damage to the community, keeping people safe.”

“I am truly gratified to see this project that I initiated come to fruition in an agreement with Columbus House Seniors Co-op and the Government of Canada. It is not often that such a project is undertaken to preserve City-owned riverbank property as well as the homes of so many people for decades to come. It is an unusual idea, and I am grateful that those involved see its practical, long-term value.”

“Columbus House is very grateful for the CMHC support, otherwise we could not secure the funding to adequately protect our building from the riverbank erosion that was reaching critical levels. We can now focus on our primary work to provide safe and affordable housing for seniors in our community.”

Quick facts:

• The National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF) is a program under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) that gives priority to projects that help people who need it most, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous peoples, people living with disabilities, those with mental health or addiction issues, veterans, and young adults.
• With a budget of $13.2 billion, the NHCF plans to:
  • Create up to 60,000 new homes
  • Repair up to 240,000 homes
  • Create or repair at least 4,000 shelter spaces for victims of family violence
  • Create at least 7,000 new homes for seniors
  • Create at least 2,400 new homes for people with developmental disabilities
• Budget 2022 proposes to advance $2.9 billion in funding under the NHCF to accelerate the creation of up to 4,300 new units and the repair of up to 17,800 units.
• The Government of Canada’s National Housing Strategy (NHS) is an ambitious, 10-year plan that will invest over $72 billion to give more Canadians a place to call home.

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. CMHC’s aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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

Check out the National Housing Strategy Housing Funding Initiatives Map to see affordable housing projects that have been developed across Canada.

For more information on Connective Support Society, visit: https://connective.ca/.

For information on this release:

Arevig Afarian
Office of the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion
arevig.afarian@infc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
media@cmhc-schl.gc.ca