SASKATOON – Several new affordable housing units have opened their doors in Saskatoon to meet the ongoing need in the province’s biggest city.
A total of 73 housing units are now open in Saskatoon, with 37 market rental units, 19 affordable units and 17 accessible one-bedroom units. 36 homes are aimed at low-income seniors, families and individuals with disabilities.
The units, located at Métis Veterans Plaza in the city's west side, are specifically aimed at Métis and First Nations Peoples. It will be operated by Camponi Housing Corporation and SaskNative Rentals, and according to a news release it will be offering on-site social, medical and financial support services.
According to a provincial news release this development was the result of a joint investment by the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan, as well as partnerships with Camponi Housing Corporation, SaskNative Rentals and the City of Saskatoon.
This project is part of the Feds' National Housing Strategy, a 10 plus year, $115 plus billion initiative to provide more housing to Canadians. Funding for this particularly project includes $10 million through the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund. $23,600,322 through the Affordable Housing Fund which was previously announced, $1.2 million in funding from the Government of Saskatchewan through the Rental Development Program, $500,000 in funding from the Government of Saskatchewan through SCIP, and $150,000 from the City of Saskatoon and a 5-year incremental tax abatement.This project was years in the making.
Minister of Social Services Terry Jenson welcomed the opening of the development.
"I think within the city of Saskatoon this project means a lot. It's been something that's been worked on for the past eight to 10 years and it's finally come to fruition," said Jenson.
"We're so excited that there's going to be families, there's going to be individuals and seniors able to move in, not just to put a roof over their head but also have a sense of community with all the different amenities that are going to be here including in the room that we're in. This is where the community is being welcomed in and be able to share in this project in the days and weeks and months and years ahead."
Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block credited all of those who made it happen.
"I think this project demonstrates real leadership on behalf of the Métis community, on behalf of Camponi and Native Housing, and how they were able to assemble orders of government all of them and also our whole community to make sure there is creating a visionary project, not just bricks and mortar if you will but rather a place to call home. And this is I think at a time when we need it more than ever, an example of what we can achieve when we have that kind of collaboration," said Block.
Not lost on the mayor was the fact this announcement was made came on a day of bitterly minus-30 conditions.
"I spent much of last night communicating with Saskatoon Tribal Council… with EWC, with our fire department, with the Salvation Army, trying to figure out do we have capacity. This is dangerously cold for all people. But… this really shines a spotlight on why we have to move forward as earnestly as we can to ensure that people have a place to call home."
