The Weekly Voice

Ottawa Announces Infusion Of $72.4 M To Build 220 New Homes In Toronto

City Building Permits Include New Buildings, Additions, Garages, Decks And Sheds Worth $1.4 Billion

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TORONTO,: Over $72.4 million in federal funding has been announced through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF) to build 220 new homes in Toronto.

Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, alongside Salma Zahid, Member of Parliament for Scarboroug­h Centre, John Tory, Mayor of Toronto, Tim Neeb, President of Mahogany Management, and Brad Saunders, CEO of Community Living Toronto made the announceme­nt with the statement that the COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that affordable housing is key to Canada’s recovery.

These new homes are part of the Birchmount Green project, located at 1236 Birchmount Road.

Residents will have access to a large amenity room with access to outdoor greenery and barbecues, an accessible rooftop garden, a library with computers, a children’s play area, bicycle and scooter storage, a nurse’s station, and two offices for support service organizati­ons that have been designed to provide a better environmen­t to the residents of Birchmount Green.

Budget 2022 proposes to advance $2.9 billion in funding, on a cash basis, under the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, so that all remaining funds from this program will be spent by 202526, accelerati­ng the creation of up to 4,300 new units and the repair of up to 17,800 units for Canadians who need them the most.

Hussen said: “Through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, our government is investing in affordable housing here in Toronto to help improve the quality of life for those who need it most. Thanks to today’s announceme­nt, more individual­s and families in Toronto will now have access to a place to call home. This is the National Hous

ing Strategy at work.”

Salma Zahid said: “This investment from the Government of Canada’s National Housing Coinvestme­nt Fund is improving the economic and social well-being of the families who will soon call Birchmount Green their home, and is making Toronto a better place to live. When people have a secure and stable home, they gain the confidence they need to succeed and fulfill their potential.”

Mayor John Tory said: “Today is another example of the work the Government of Canada and the City of Toronto are doing together to get housing built. I want to thank Minister Hussen and the federal government for their continued commitment to creating more affordable housing in the city and for helping us meet the goals we have laid out in our HousingTO Action Plan. These new 220 affordable homes will help hundreds of people have a place to call home in our city.”

Tim Neeb added: “We are incredibly honored to be able to provide quality affordable apartments that our tenants can be proud to call home.

“Helping families and those in need of support by providing well-designed amenities and a beautiful environmen­t to grow and prosper is fulfilling work and necessary in building a better future for everyone. I am extremely grateful to CMHC and the City of Toronto for their tremendous ongoing help and leadership. Their combined contributi­on was essential in making the dream of Birchmount Green a reality.”

• Canada’s National Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10-year, $72+ billion plan that will give more Canadians a place to call home. With a budget of $13.2 billion, the NHCF gives priority to projects that help people who need it most, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous people, people with disabiliti­es, those with mental health, or addiction issues, veterans and young adults.

• Ottawa will work with partners to build up to 60,000 new affordable homes and repair up to 240,000 existing affordable and community homes.

• Under the NHCF, investment­s are also planned to create or repair at least 4,000 shelter spaces for victims of family violence, as well as create at least 7,000 new affordable housing units for seniors and 2,400 new affordable housing units for people with developmen­tal disabiliti­es.

• To expand co-operative housing in Canada by an estimated additional 6,000 units, budget 2022 proposes to reallocate $500 million of funding from the National Housing Co-Investment Fund to launch a new Co-operative Housing Developmen­t Program aimed at expanding co-op housing in Canada. This new program will be co-designed with the Cooperativ­e Housing Federation of Canada and the co-operative housing sector

 ?? Pic: Minister Hussen. ?? Minister Hussen, MP Salma Zahid and Mayor John Tory at the funding announcmen­t.
Pic: Minister Hussen. Minister Hussen, MP Salma Zahid and Mayor John Tory at the funding announcmen­t.
 ?? ?? Artist’s rendering or the new apartment building.
Artist’s rendering or the new apartment building.
 ?? Pic: Mayor Tory. ?? Mayor John Tory addresses a gathering at the Birthmount Green site.
Pic: Mayor Tory. Mayor John Tory addresses a gathering at the Birthmount Green site.

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