Mayor Watson thanks the Government of Canada for their support of Ottawa’s most vulnerable population
Canada Rapid Housing Initiative in support of Ottawa’s homeless – OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 8, 2020 – Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. The COVID-19 crisis has made it clear that affordable housing is key to Canada’s recovery as major cities across the country including Ottawa are dealing with the devastating impacts of rising levels of homelessness and housing need.
Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre, along with Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa, announced details of the $31.9 million Rapid Housing Initiative allocation for the City of Ottawa.
As part of its Investment Plan for the Major Cities Stream, the City of Ottawa submitted four projects with three non-profit partners. The proposal includes approximately:
- 77 units of supportive housing for single men and women experiencing homelessness, with a focus on Inuit, First Nations and Metis individuals, including 29 units specifically for women.
- 32 affordable housing units for families in the emergency shelter system, with a focus on supporting newcomer and Black families.
“With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for more affordable housing in our community has been magnified. The City of Ottawa thanks the Government of Canada for their support of our most vulnerable population through the Rapid Housing Initiative,” said Mayor Jim Watson. This will help us work towards our goal of ensuring that everyone has a place to call home,” added Mayor Watson.
To date, the City also submitted an additional three projects for consideration under the Project Stream. If approved, these would be in partnership with an additional three non-profit agencies and include a total of 62 units of affordable or transitional housing, with a continued focus on Indigenous residents and women, as well as families.
“This Pandemic has shown us just how precarious the situation is for people who are without safe, affordable housing.. Through the Rapid Housing Initiative the City of Ottawa will receive $31.9 million to help quickly build more supportive housing and affordable housing,” said Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre. “This will help keep our vulnerable populations safe in a time when they need it most and help address Ottawa’s affordable housing shortage. Through this investment we are supporting our most vulnerable, creating good jobs and building inclusive communities,” said McKenna.
With the $1 billion RHI, the Government of Canada will support the construction of up to 3,000 permanent, new affordable housing units across Canada to help address urgent housing needs for people and populations who are vulnerable.
Delivered by CMHC, under the National Housing Strategy (NHS), RHI provides capital contributions to develop new, permanent affordable housing by covering costs associated with modular multi-unit rental construction; conversion of non-residential to affordable multi-residential; and, rehabilitation of buildings in disrepair and/or abandoned to affordable multi-residential. Acquisition of land and buildings would be covered under eligible costs.
Find more articles from otttimes.ca – mtltimes.ca – totimes.ca
