A number of Estevan residences will be getting a facelift thanks to a recent announcement.
The federal and provincial governments announced Thursday they would provide $31 million in joint funding for improvements to more than 247 projects in 97 communities in southern locations of Saskatchewan.
Of that money, over $840,000 has been allocated for Estevan, said Diane Baird of the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, the organization that delivers the federal-provincial housing programs.
Although she couldn't provide specifics, Baird said the money will be used to make improvements and repairs in facilities owned by the housing corporation and operated locally by the Estevan Housing Corporation such as Midtown Manor and Yardley Place.
"The work that is being done is replacing windows, water heater replacements, boiler replacements and those types of things," said Baird who added the LutherCare Community group that operates Trinity Tower will also receive part of the $840,000.
The funding was made available through Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government's plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the recession. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for new and existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment of $132 million under the amended Canada-Saskatchewan Affordable Housing Program Agreement.
"Through Year 2 of Canada's Economic Action Plan, our government remains committed to giving a hand-up to those who need it most here in Saskatchewan," said Andrew Scheer, the MP for Regina-Qu'Appelle, on behalf of Diane Finley, minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
"Projects like these are especially valuable during these tough economic times, because they put construction workers and tradespeople to work quickly while also providing needed improvements to housing throughout the country."
The Economic Action Plan builds on the federal government's commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over the next five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless.
The amendment to the Canada-Saskatchewan Affordable Housing Program Agreement, which included funding under Canada's Economic Action Plan, signed in May 2009, brought federal housing support of $74 million to the province.
The provincial government will match that commitment for a total of $148 million to assist those in housing need and, in collaboration with other levels of government and community partners, to make various types of affordable housing programs possible.
