The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) today welcomed the announcements contained in Budget 2016 of a $2.3 billion investment in affordable housing and homelessness over the next two years, and a commitment to consult with stakeholders on the development of a National Housing Strategy to be implemented over the subsequent 8 years. This approach, and the specific investments, are aligned with many of the recommendations raised by CHRA and its members over the past year in CHRA’s Housing For All campaign.
Specifically, over the next 2 years, the Budget contains $504 million to double the Affordable Housing Initiative; $200 million targeted to affordable housing for seniors; $574 million to support energy and water efficiency retrofits to existing social housing; almost $90 million to support victims of violence shelters, $739 million to address housing in First Nations, Inuit and northern communities; $111 million to bolster the Homelessness Partnering Strategy; $208 million to a new Affordable Rental Housing Innovation Fund (over 5 years); and $30 million to help providers maintain rent geared to income units.
The Budget also commits to consult with provinces and territories, indigenous and other communities, and key stakeholders to develop a National Housing Strategy.
“This Budget sends a clear message that the federal government is serious about tackling the concerns of the affordable housing sector in Canada,” said Jeff Morrison, Executive Director of CHRA. “With the range of short-term investments announced today, and with the commitment to develop a longer term National Housing Strategy, CHRA is ready to work with our members and the federal government to ensure that the needs of the affordable housing sector as identified in our Housing For All campaign are properly addressed.”
A copy of CHRA’s Budget 2016 Highlights document can be found here.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Catherine Fortin LeFaivre
CHRA Public Affairs Director
cflefaivre@chra-achru.ca
613-979-8683
CHRA’s members include housing providers, municipalities, businesses, all 13 provincial and territorial housing departments, service and support agencies, individuals, students and other housing-related associations and networks.