CANADA HELPS builds 54 new units in Ottawa

OTTAWA, ON, Aug. 31, 2023 /CNW/ – Today, Anita Vandenbeld, Member of Parliament for Ottawa West—Nepean, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructures and Communities, alongside Sean Devine, Councillor for the City of Ottawa, announced the details of the $18.5 million in funding for the City of Ottawa, one of the 41 recipients of the third round of the Rapid Housing Initiative’s (RHI) Cities Stream.

As part of its investment plan for the Cities Stream, The City of Ottawa, in partnership with Ottawa Salus, will be building a 4-storey, 54-unit apartment building in Nepean. The project is a supportive housing community of care for older adults, providing an opportunity to Age in Place, a key component of living with dignity and independence. Located at 56 Capilano Drive, Salus will support independent-living adults with serious mental illness and concurrent challenges including addictions, homelessness, and cycles of hospitalization.

“When we help our community’s most vulnerable, we are doing more than putting a roof over their heads. We are helping to build a foundation for broader social and economic success for these individuals. Through strong partnerships with municipalities and local organizations, the Rapid Housing Initiative is delivering results for Canadians.” –  Anita Vandenbeld, Member of Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean

It plans to surpass local environmental and accessibility code requirements to support the best practices of Aging in the Right Place. It will be implementing supportive programming that promotes tenants’ strengths and skills and links tenants with resources in the greater community. Onsite Support Services may include: Rehabilitation Worker/Community Development), Peer Support, Occupational Therapy, Recreology, Substance Use Support, and Mental Health Community Support Services.

“I’m happy to see that Ottawa Salus has partnered in this initiative. This investment will help create 54 new supportive housing units as we build capacity. It’s encouraging that our community now has more supportive housing units than permanent shelter beds. I want to thank the federal government for its support and the team at Ottawa Salus for their work in carrying out this project.” – Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, City of Ottawa

This is made possible by the Government of Canada’s additional investment of $1.5 billion through RHI, bringing the program’s total to $4 billion to support the country’s most vulnerable. The additional funding for the third round of RHI will be divided into two streams: $1 billion through the Projects Stream and $500 million towards the Cities Stream. This investment is expected to create at least 4,500 more affordable housing units for Canadians in severe housing need across the country, with 25% of investments going towards women-focused housing projects.

“Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Through the Rapid Housing Initiative, we are quickly providing new affordable housing units for people who need them most, right across Canada, including right here in Ottawa.” –  The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

• The Government of Canada’s National Housing Strategy (NHS) is an ambitious, 10-year plan that will invest more than $82+ billion to give more Canadians a place to call home.
• Launched in 2020, the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) is delivered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), under the NHS.
• The first two rounds of the RHI exceeded expectations and are expected to create more than 10,000 units instead of the 7,500 initially planned. This includes more than 3,300 units to support women and more than 4,200 units to support Indigenous Peoples.
• The RHI takes a human rights-based approach to housing, serving people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and other vulnerable people under the NHS, including women and children fleeing domestic violence, seniors, young adults, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people experiencing mental health and addiction issues, veterans, 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, racialized groups, and recent immigrants or refugees.
• Over nearly five decades, Salus has built a broad portfolio of supportive housing options in Ottawa for adults with serious mental illness and concurrent challenges including addictions, homelessness, and cycles of hospitalization.

• To find out more, visit RHI3 and eligibility criteria.
• As Canada’s authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC’s aim is that everyone in Canada has a home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.
• To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit: www.placetocallhome.ca
• Check out the National Housing Strategy Housing Funding Initiatives Map to see affordable housing projects that have been developed across Canada.