Latest news with #HousingAcceleratorFund
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Welcome to the neighbourhood — sort of
Opinion As a matter of right. It's a simple sentence that continues to stoke fear among some Winnipeggers. This apprehension is fuelled by a sense that pending zoning amendments will cause serious alteration to Winnipeg's neighbourhoods by allowing, 'as a matter of right,' some forms of multi-family housing to be built in what has otherwise been predominately single-family areas. City council will debate these words next week as it moves to fast-track housing investment tied to the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. Much of the debate will centre on the fourplex and its potential to disrupt the design and character of older neighbourhoods. The debate will raise the spectre that swaths of single-family homes will be demolished and replaced by larger duplex, triplex and fourplexes. This will trigger followup questioning regarding height incompatibility, shadowing on lower properties and certainly traffic concerns. These are legitimate questions property owners have a right to ask. In contrast, the city will argue that 'as a matter of right' does not preclude any proposed project from meeting the highest standard for design. This includes restrictions on what can replace a single-family home, how tall it can be, how much of the lot it can cover and other considerations. The outcome of the debate is not likely to satisfy all perspectives. However, it is critical to point out that these words have also historically limited change to neighbourhood structures, ensuring a neighbourhood can only contain single-family homes. This has resulted in higher density housing, public housing and fourplexes being relegated to only zones that allow such. Furthermore, any application to change or alter zoning in a single-family area often faces a complex path of variances, appeals and hearings to limit the ability of such change. Thus on one side of the debate, the current model gives residents a voice in shaping how neighbourhoods change over time. In contrast, this approach has been used as a discriminatory tool to push what are considered non-conforming uses to the margins of cities and into less desirable locations. On a personal note, I grew up in a fourplex in South Osborne. Our home backed onto a cemetery and faced a busy high school. It was built in 1972 (the year we moved in) during a wave of infill projects intended boost rental properties in Canada throughout the 1970s. Interestingly, the debate over the location of the 1970s rental housing boom focused on the same rhetoric we hear today, namely, yes, we need such housing, but it needs to be located elsewhere. Winnipeg has a very distinct pattern of fourplexes built during the 1970s, often in marginal locations or acting as a buffer on busy streets. For example, in my Fort Rouge area, you see a high number of duplex and fourplexes built near the railyards in Lord Roberts. Incidentally, this is also the location we see infill public housing in the same neighbourhood. Perhaps the thinking was out of sight, out of mind. Additionally, you see the same vintage of fourplex scattered along very busy thoroughfares in many parts of Winnipeg. I often comment that my childhood home was a cookie-cutter fourplex, right down to the colour of the bricks. It is always fun noting twins of my house while driving throughout Winnipeg. What we need to understand in the pending debate is that more housing is desperately needed, including a range of types from single-family to larger multi-unit homes. We also need to understand that the design standards being advanced will offer tools to ensure what is developed proceeds with purpose and control. These tools can also be changed and adjusted as needed. The interesting part of this debate is growing up in a fourplex was no different than the single-family home I live in now. It was simply a place in which my parents, who emigrated out of Italy, found as an affordable way to ensure we had a good upbringing. It took me some time to realize that our 1,100 square feet was distinct from a home that did not share a common wall. Looking back, I think we ended up being good neighbours. My mother, who is 90, remains in the same fourplex we moved into in 1972. Many of the nearby families and others have also been very long-term residents. Perhaps it's time to say 'welcome to the neighbourhood,' more often. Jino Distasio is a professor of urban geography at the University of Winnipeg.
Cision Canada
3 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
CMHC releases results for first quarter of 2025 Français
OTTAWA, ON, May 30, 2025 /CNW/ - Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) today released its Quarterly Financial Report showing strong first quarter results despite a volatile economic environment due to global political factors including rising trade tensions. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, we insured 10,030 transactional homeowner units, an increase of 37% over 7,295 in Q1 2024 supported by decreasing interest rates which lower the cost of borrowing as well as a mortgage rule change, which now allows 30-year insured mortgage amortization. CMHC continues to see strong multi-unit residential volumes, which totaled $14,171 million in the first three quarters of 2025, up from $13,861 million during the same period last year – a 2% increase. The increase continues to be largely driven by the MLI Select product which allows for longer amortizations and higher loan to value, accessibility, and climate compatibility. In Q1, CMHC insured $10,476 million for MLI Select, an increase of 11% over $9,474 million during the same quarter of 2024. CMHC also delivers housing programs and initiatives on behalf of the Government of Canada. An initial $2.63 billion for the Canada Greener Homes Loan Program was fully committed due to high demand. The program received a top-up in Q1 2025 for CMHC to deliver an additional $600 million in interest-free loans for a total of nearly $3.23 billion, supporting 15,000 to 24,000 more homeowners. "We will continue to assess the impact that economic factors could have on housing affordability, our financial outlook and our financial results. We are fully committed to being an organization Canadians can count on." – Michel Tremblay, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice-President, Corporate Services Additional highlights for the three-month period ending March 31, 2025: Arrears for mortgages insured by CMHC remain low at 0.30%, resulting in low levels of claims paid. The arrears rate increased slightly, up from 0.29% in the same quarter last year, and remain below historical trends. CMHC guaranteed $54 billion in new securities in Q1, 2025 an increase from $52 billion in Q1 2024 resulting from higher NHS MBS volumes compared to last year. Government funding and housing programs expenses are up compared to the same quarter in 2024, mainly driven by an increase of $447 million for the Housing Accelerator Fund program, $295 million for the Canada Community Housing Initiative. This was partially offset by a decrease of $85 million for the Affordable Housing Fund. Due to the nature of many housing programs, funding patterns may vary significantly year over year. The full Quarterly Financial Report is available online. CMHC plays a critical role as a national convenor to promote stability and sustainability in Canada's housing finance system. Its mortgage insurance products support access to home ownership and the creation and maintenance of rental supply. CMHC research and data help inform housing policy. By facilitating cooperation between all levels of government, private and non-profit sectors, it contributes to advancing housing affordability, equity, and climate compatibility. CMHC actively supports the Government of Canada in delivering on its commitment to make housing more affordable.
CBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Moncton to get $1.2M in additional federal funding to boost housing supply
Moncton is getting an additional $1.2 million in federal housing funding. It's money on top of $15.3 million previously announced to boost the city's housing supply. The new funding, through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Housing Accelerator Fund, is expected to be used for grants, studies and planning department staff. Councillors reviewed the plan at a committee meeting Monday with final approval expected at a council meeting June 3. Josh Davies, Moncton's manager of long-range policy planning, said the funding came after the city showed success with another housing initiative. Some of the funding will replenish grant programs launched with the initial funding. "The grant programs have been very strong," Davies told reporters. One of the grant programs offered $10,000 to homeowners building an accessory dwelling unit, such as a garden home. The funds for that program had been spent within the first year. The new money will allow for 26 more grants. Some of the additional funding would also go toward a grant program providing $20,000 per unit for non-profit housing as the initial amount is nearly all spent. The additional money would allow for nine more grants. Other funding would cover studies the city is carrying out, including plans for areas that have yet to be developed in the city. The studies could look at transportation and utility servicing, zoning and land for public purposes. Heritage housing study Another study expected to start next year would examine how heritage buildings could be repurposed to increase the housing supply. Davies said the study would look at larger heritage buildings, including some currently used for commercial space, that could be renovated to add more housing units. "Not to say we're going to turn them all into small apartments," Davies said. "But where can we find wins? And what type of buildings may be more appropriate for conversion? Which ones not so much?" He said the goal is to preserve what gives the property heritage value. "We want to make sure that remains intact, while also looking for opportunities to increase density when we can." Coun. Daniel Bourgeois asked city staff to shift some of the funding toward a program to cover "soft costs" non-profit builders face "so that we can help them fund the legwork." Those costs can include engineers, site surveys and other work carried out before construction begins. Davies said the initial round of funding included grants to help cover those costs, but there wasn't significant uptake. "There hasn't been as much knocking on the door for the soft-cost program," he said. Coun. Shawn Crossman asked about $220,000 budgeted for more planning department staff. Davies said it would be spent on contracts for people to assist on certain projects and that he doesn't expect it would result in additional full-time staff. The initial funding came with a target of more than 2,500 new housing units created over three years. Davies said the first year finished around 100 units higher than targeted and he is "anticipating a similarly strong year."
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Jasper Place Wellness Centre breaks ground on new "Bridge Healing" facilities
Jasper Place Wellness Centre broke ground Friday on two new outpatient support facilities in the Parkdale area for recently discharged homeless hospital patients. The new facilities are part of the 'Bridge Healing' program that offers housing and support services to homeless patients discharged from hospitals, the City of Edmonton said in a Friday news release. The buildings will offer 24 private suites for homeless patients, based on similar full-capacity facilities in Glenwood that host 36 guests. The 'Bridge Healing' program also gives homeless patients access to a wide spectrum of support services, like gaining life skills, getting personal identification, and securing permanent housing. 'This is a bold and innovative program that will help some of our city's most vulnerable residents,' said Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti in the release. Francescutti is an emergency room physician who helped develop the 'Bridge Healing' model. 'Now we have to continue working hard on perfecting the model so it meets every patient's needs.' The buildings are being constructed on a stretch of land from 81 Street and 115 Avenue NW to the Jasper Place Wellness Centre on 89 Street and 118 Avenue, bought from the city for one dollar. The sale included a grant for up to $900,000 from the Housing Accelerator Fund and a partnership between the Jasper Place Wellness Centre and the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. 'This is truly a community effort to help house more people experiencing houselessness in our city,' said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi in the release. 'These initiatives give me hope, because this is about everyone across our community — the private sector, the non-profit sector and multiple orders of government — working together to make Edmonton more compassionate and equitable. That's how we build an Edmonton for all of us.' High density nodes get pushback at Edmonton public hearing 'Bridges critical gaps': Alberta earmarks $30M for clinics to serve most vulnerable in cities
Global News
23-05-2025
- Health
- Global News
Mayor praises new housing project to help homeless Edmontonians when they leave hospitals
City officials joined people representing other local organizations to hold an event in the central Edmonton neighbourhood of Parkdale on Friday, breaking ground on the future site of buildings aimed at providing stability for homeless people when they are discharged from hospitals. The project will see a former bus loop located at 8116 115 Ave. become the site of two buildings that will feature 24 private suites and is being undertaken by Jasper Place Wellness Centre, in partnership with the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, and with support from the City of Edmonton. Edmonton city council approved the sale of land at to Jasper Place Wellness Centre for $1 last year, and that transfer of ownership included a grant of up to $900,000, as part of the city's Housing Accelerator Fund. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said he believes Edmonton is 'going through a moment of opportunity' because the city, province and Ottawa are currently 'really aligning together to scale up these kinds of models' despite sometimes disagreeing over how to share responsibility for addressing homelessness. Story continues below advertisement 'That gives me hope,' he told reporters, adding he believes the Parkdale project is the most cost-effective way to address giving houseless people somewhere to go when they leave hospitals. 'This is a program that can be easily scaled up at the national level.' Construction is set to begin this year. Thirty-six private suites are already operating elsewhere in the city via the two-year-old Bridge Healing program that offers wraparound health-care services and the ability to access other resources to give houseless people help in obtaining identification documents, life skills and permanent housing. Dr. Louis Francescutti, a public health professor at the University of Alberta who also works as an emergency room doctor at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, is a champion of the Bridge Healing program and agreed with Sohi that initiatives like the one in Parkdale could work in many parts of the country. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Every city in this country and in Alberta has this problem of how to help people in their greatest moment of need,' he said. 'I'll still see a patient that's suffering from frostbite that happened in January, and that young man that I saw two days ago lost his lower limbs because of frostbite. 'This program is meant to immediately solve problems like that but more importantly, it gives us an opportunity to develop a new model.' Story continues below advertisement Francescutti said that over the last two years, 444 patients have been through the Bridge Healing program and 'a lot of them have gone on to permanent housing,' in some cases meeting friends through the program and moving into permanent housing together. He acknowledged that many also do not end up in permanent housing and so a project involving NAIT is looking at developing a chatbot using artificial intelligence to better understand the complex needs and challenges these people have. 1:52 U of A students pitch ICU for people experiencing homelessness '(This is) an innovative project that takes us one step closer to building an Edmonton where everyone has the care and support they need, and a safe and welcoming place to call home,' Coun. Ashley Salvador said of the Parkdale plan, noting that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of homeless Edmontonians has doubled. 'We're helping break the cycle of discharging people into homelessness.' Story continues below advertisement 'Jasper Place Wellness had this idea of helping people in a very disruptive way,' Francescutti said of the Parkdale project. 'And I think this is very disruptive, because what it does is it takes the best elements of health care, it takes the best elements of community support.' Morrel Wax, the vice-president of philanthropy and stakeholder engagement at the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, said his organization is raising money to propel the initiative forward. 'When public and private and non-profit sectors work together toward a common goal, anything is possible,' he told reporters. 1:51 West end resource centre for homeless Edmontonians closing over lack of funding Francescutti said doctors, nurses and social workers at hospitals cope with significant 'moral distress' when they have to 'just put a bandage on … (homeless Edmontonians) and then just put them back on the street.' He noted that in addition to helping those who are most in need, initiatives like the housing project in Parkdale directly benefit all Edmontonians because it can reduce the amount of emergency resources often needed to deal with homelessness. Story continues below advertisement 'This will make things for the average citizen better,' Francescutti said. 'It helps the system relieve a lot of the pressures we're under today. 'The house itself gives people the opportunity to come together and start seeing the humanity moving forward.'
