The federal, provincial and municipal governments announced that they are investing over $74 million to create more than 675 affordable housing units throughout the city of Ottawa. The announcement took place at an official opening for a new affordable housing development at 455 Via Verona Avenue, which was built in partnership with the Multifaith Housing Initiative. The development will provide 98 affordable apartments, including 10 accessible units.
“Our government is taking action to strengthen the middle class,” said Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). “Through new investments in the National Housing Strategy, we will ensure that more Canadians have access to housing that meets their needs and that they can afford. We will reduce housing need, lift more Canadians out of poverty, and contribute to strong, more inclusive communities.”
The governments of Canada and Ontario each contributed over $54 million to these projects through the Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) Agreement, while the City of Ottawa contributed more than $20 million.
“The City of Ottawa is committed to providing access to safe and affordable housing to all its residents,” said Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa. “These important investments will help our most vulnerable residents find a stable place they can call home. By working collaboratively with the Provincial and Federal Governments and with our service providers, the City is increasing its affordable and supportive housing stock and remains on track to meet its goal of ending chronic homelessness by 2024.”
“Ottawa has a pressing need for safe, affordable housing, and projects like The Haven can be life-altering,” added Mike Ward, President, Multifaith Housing Initiative. “By helping to provide nice, safe homes, the community of partners behind these initiatives, and in particular governments at all levels, have answered the prayers of single parents and their children, persons with physical disabilities, new Canadians, and hundreds of others.”
Since 2003, the province has committed more than $5 billion in funding for affordable housing, which has helped support more than 22,000 new affordable rental housing units; more than 335,000 repairs and improvements to social and affordable housing units; and rental and down payment assistance to more than 93,000 households in need.
These investments complement the commitments made through Ontario’s recent Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy update, and support the province’s goal of ending chronic homelessness by 2025. For more information on affordable housing in Ontario, visit ontario.ca/affordablehousing.
