Groups urged to tap affordable housing fund
Monsef touts example of Mount Community Centre apartment conversion
Status of Women Minister Maryam Monsef encouraged local housing advocates Wednesday to apply for new federal funds to build affordable and accessible housing.
Monsef toured The Mount Community Centre, which received $250,000 from the federal government and $250,000 from the province lately to build five apartments and shared common space for people living with disabilities.
The Mount is a former convent that’s being converted into both community space and apartments.
Monsef spoke to housing advocates at The Mount about the federal government’s new National Co-Investment Fund, a $13.2 billion fund to help create and repair affordable housing across Canada.
“I know that if we continue to build on the many wonderful models in Peterborough, we’ll be able to get our share of those dollars,” Monsef said.
Applications are now being accepted, she said, and project funding will be given first to help those in the greatest need.
Monsef said those include women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous peoples, veterans and people living with disabilities, for example.
She also mentioned that Peterborough has a rental vacancy rate of 1.1 per cent, which is among the lowest rates in Canada.
Meanwhile local housing advocates have come up with ways to build apartments in places such as The Mount, Monsef said.
“You saw solutions where others had not before,” she told the people gathered at The Mount on Wednesday, adding that they have changed the lives of individuals and families for the better.
She then strongly encouraged them to apply for money through the new fund to keep those projects going.
“Let’s get our fair share of dollars.” NOTE: To learn more about the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, visit www.cmhc-nhs.ca
joelle.kovach@peterboroughdaily.com