Breaking ground for a new transitional apartment in Prince Albert

Solving Canada’s housing crisis requires immediate action to bring down costs. To provide Canadians with increased access to affordable and sustainable housing, the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan today announced funding of $3.76 million to help build a new transitional housing apartment for individuals in need in Prince Albert, with a focus on women experiencing hardship. This low-rise apartment will provide affordable and supportive housing and will offer temporary accommodation and aims to assist individuals in moving from challenging circumstances toward stability, well-being and independence.

Developed by YWCA Prince Albert, the multi-million-dollar project will add 20 one-bedroom units to the city, which will contain 10 bachelor units, eight one-bedroom units, two one-bedroom barrier-free units and a common area for services. The property will be located on 18th Street West and the units are expected to be completed in early 2027.

YWCA Prince Albert is a non-profit organization providing shelter, supportive housing, and assistance to marginalized populations to help break the cycle of poverty. For this project, YWCA Prince Albert (YWCA) plans to give priority tenancy to women transitioning from YWCA programs, which includes women and youth at risk of violence and homelessness and young mothers. Tenants will receive support services through YWCA Prince Albert’s various programs.

As we build a strong Canadian housing sector, purposeful collaboration will be essential. That means working hand-in-hand with the non-profit sector to bring down costs and build homes at a scale and speed not seen since the Second World War.

Quotes:

“These homes being built by YWCA Prince Albert will provide individuals in need a safe space and peace of mind. The federal government is committed to supporting communities across the country in ensuring every Canadian has a place to call home.”

“This investment will provide vulnerable women with a safe, supportive place to call home and hope for a brighter future. With strong support of community partners, we are happy to see construction begin on this new transitional housing development that will provide stability and life-changing support for women in need.”

“We are glad to be starting construction on this much-needed project in partnership with the municipal, provincial, and federal governments. Between rising costs and low housing supply in Prince Albert, finding appropriate housing is challenging, particularly on limited or fixed incomes. Our new twenty-unit low-income housing build will help to address some of the gaps we're seeing for individuals and families living in the lower income brackets. We will be providing support as needed through our Community Connection Centre for things such as employment assistance, renter information, and more.”

“We’re pleased to support this important initiative. Affordable housing is a vital part of a healthy community, and this project is an important step toward ensuring everyone in Prince Albert has access to safe, stable housing.”

Quick facts:

• The National Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10+ year, $115+ billion plan to give more Canadians a place to call home. Progress on programs and initiatives are updated quarterly on the Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) website. The Housing and Infrastructure Project Map shows affordable housing projects that have been developed.
  • As of March 2025, the federal government has committed $65.84 billion to support the creation of over 166,000 units and the repair of over 322,000 units. These measures prioritize those in greatest need, including seniors, Indigenous Peoples, people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and women and children fleeing violence.
  • NHS is built on strong partnerships between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, and continuous engagement with others, including municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, and the social and private housing sectors. This includes consultations with Canadians from all walks of life, and people with lived experience of housing need.
  • All NHS investments delivered by the federal, provincial, and territorial governments will respect the key principles of NHS that support partnerships, people, and communities.
• In 2019, the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan entered into an agreement through the National Housing Strategy. The Canada – Saskatchewan Bilateral Agreement will invest $585 million over 10 years, which is cost matched between the federal and provincial governments.
• The Rental Development Program (RDP) provides one-time capital funding in the form of a forgivable loan to assist in the development of affordable rental housing units for households with low incomes. The RDP is funded by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC).
• YWCA Prince Albert provides shelter, supportive housing, and assistance to marginalized populations to help break the cycle of poverty. Operating since 1912, YWCA offers two crisis shelters, housing projects, housing case management, recovery services, settlement services, and comprehensive support programs.
• Since 2007, Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) has worked with Prince Albert housing providers to develop 415 affordable rental units. In addition, through SHC’s Shelter Enhancement Program, YWCA has completed multiple shelter improvements benefiting victims of family violence, with funding of $199,000.
• Funding provided for this project is as follows:
  • $3,762,516 in cost-matched funding from the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan through the National Housing Strategy (NHS) – Saskatchewan Priorities Initiative (SPI)
  • $414,694 from YWCA Prince Albert
  • $30,000 from the City of Prince Albert

Additional information:

Visit Canada.ca/housing for the most requested Government of Canada housing information.

CMHC plays a critical role as a national facilitator to promote stability and sustainability in Canada’s housing finance system. Our mortgage insurance products support access to homeownership and the creation and maintenance of rental supply. We also actively support the Government of Canada in delivering on its commitment to make housing more affordable. Our research and data help inform housing policy. By facilitating cooperation between all levels of government, private and non-profit sectors, we contribute to advancing housing affordability, equity, and climate compatibility. Follow us on X, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Progress on programs and initiatives are updated quarterly on the Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) website. The Housing and Infrastructure Project Map shows affordable housing projects that have been developed so far.

In November 2019, the Government of Saskatchewan released Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan: the Next Decade of Growth 2020 – 2030, which sets out the Government’s vision for a province of 1.4 million people by 2030. The Plan identifies principles, goals and actions to ensure Saskatchewan is capturing the opportunities and meeting the challenges of a growing province. To learn more, visit www.saskatchewan.ca.

Information on this news release: 

Renée LeBlanc Proctor
Office of the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure
renee.proctor@infc.gc.ca

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

Media Relations
Ministry of Social Services
306-787-3610
mediamss@gov.sk.ca

Wilna Furstenberg
Communications Manager
City of Prince Albert
306-953-4884