$188-million available to build housing for low-income and homeless Albertans

July 8, 2010 - PRLog -- July 8, 2010
Province partners with communities to build more housing

$188-million available to build housing for low-income and homeless Albertans

Edmonton... The province is partnering with municipalities, not-for-profit groups and the private sector to build homes for low-to-moderate income and homeless Albertans.

The $188-million call for proposals issued by the Alberta government, will help fulfill the province’s commitment to add 11,000 affordable housing units by 2012.
“This capital grant program is based on a partnership model which leverages private dollars with taxpayers’ money,” said Jonathan Denis, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs. “Community partnerships are critical to the success of Alberta’s capital grant program - partnerships allow us to build more units using funding in the most efficient way and to tailor projects to meet the unique needs of the community.”

The province will continue to work with municipal governments to ensure successful housing projects align to local priorities and reflect community needs and expectations. As part of the application process, applicants are asked to demonstrate the need for affordable housing in their community and identify how they will meet specific non-market housing conditions.

For a home ownership or rental housing development to be considered affordable, rental or home ownership payments must be at least 10 per cent below market rates. All successful projects are expected to maintain affordable rents or payments for a minimum of 20 years.

This is the fourth year Alberta has provided capital funding for affordable housing through the Request for Proposals process. In 2007, Alberta committed to supporting the creation of 11,000 new units by 2012. With 8,700 units already in development or available to Albertans, government is on track to meet its goal. To-date, 940 of these units have been developed specifically to provide permanent housing for the homeless.  

The application process closes on September 24. Successful projects will be announced in late 2010 and early 2011. Application forms and program details are available at www.housing.alberta.ca. Municipalities may also access the information through the Municipal Grants Web Portal on the Municipal Affairs website at www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca.


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Media inquiries may be directed to:
Donna McColl, Communications
Housing and Urban Affairs
780-415-6186 / cell 780-717-6534
donna.j.mccoll@gov.ab.ca

To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.