By Mark Buckshon
Ontario Construction Report staff writer
The federal government says it will provide more than $41million in contributions and low-cost loans through the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) to help build and repair 3,304 affordable homes in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario within the next three years.
The largest funding among the 13 projects will be $12 million to the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC) to repair and renovate buildings housing about 1,200 units, representing about two-thirds of the organization’s portfolio of 54 properties, says CCOC executive director Sarah Button.
“We’re putting in $18 million from our own sources, so it’s a 40/60 (per cent) split, and all of that work and money has to be done by the end of 2007, ” she said.
Speaking at a government-organized news conference at a CCOC community at 464 Metcalfe St. in late July, Button said buildings and units will receive window upgrades, building automation systems, solar panels and building envelope upgrades. “It’s really on a building-by-building basis because the building systems and tech and envelopes, they’re so different.”
Jenna Sudds, federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Member of Parliament for Kanata–Carleton, with Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa–Vanier and Yasir Naqvi, Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre, also participated in the announcement.
“We know Canadians are looking to us to take action to solve the housing crisis,” Sudds said in a statement. “The investments we’re announcing today will have real, tangible impacts here in our community and across Eastern Ontario, and help more Canadians find a safe and affordable place to call home.”
Among the other projects, the largest is $8,678,450 for the Vankleek Senior Citizens Manor expansion, which will provide 30 new housing units. The next three projects on the list, two at $5 million each and one for $4.24 million, represent repair portfolios for the County of Renfrew, Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton Housing Corporation, and Hastings County.
Sudds said she would need to “circle back” to provide information on the total project cost – representing the actual money that will be spent beyond the federal financial contributions.
Projects receiving funding under AHF:
| Project Name | Region/City | Funding | Units |
| Dunbar Apartment | Ottawa | $1,163,322 | 31 |
| The Corporation of the City of Cornwall Repair Portfolio | Cornwall | $2,030,334 | 400 |
| Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation Repair Portfolio | Ottawa | $12,000,000 | 1,200 |
| County of Lanark Repair Portfolio | Lanark County | $1,490,000 | 149 |
| Vankleek Senior Citizens Manor Expansion | Vankleek | $8,678,450 | 30 |
| Home for the Deafblind | Ottawa | $395,000 | 6 |
| Marmora District Housing Commission Elevator Upgrade | Marmora | $75,979 | 24 |
| Thurlow Court | Belleville | $46,340 | 21 |
| County of Renfrew Repair Portfolio | County of Renfrew | $5,000,000 | 500 |
| Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton Housing Corporation Repair Portfolio | Kawartha Lakes – Haliburton | $5,000,000 | 500 |
| The Corporation of the County of Hastings Repair Portfolio | County of Hastings | $4,240,000 | 424 |
| A Place Called Home | Kawartha Lakes | $1,348,629 | 19 |
| Christ Church Bells Corners Rectory Redevelopment, top up funding | Ottawa | $250,000 | N/A |
| Total | $41,718,054 | 3,304 |