Another $6.7M for affordable housing in Moncton announced

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The federal and provincial governments, along with the City of Moncton, announced $6.7 million in funding Friday to help build 46 new housing units across two projects in Moncton.

Ginette Petitpas Taylor, MP for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, told a news conference at city hall Friday morning that the funding is above and beyond the $15.5 million from the federal housing accelerator fund what was announced for Moncton last November. She said $3.9 million is coming from the federal government’s Rapid Housing Initiative.

A news release from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation said the first project, Rising Tide by Rising Tide Community Initiatives Inc., will build five two-story apartment buildings containing eight units, designated for homeless people from Moncton. Dale Hicks, president of Rising Tide, said tenants will have access to peer support individuals, case managers, human services counsellors, social workers, registered nurses, and housing support coordinators.

Hicks said Rising Tide has built 87 housing units over several projects and is reaching its goal of 153 units. He said the organization now has seven buildings under construction in various areas of the city, and they are constructed using the same plans and materials in a “cookie cutter” approach which makes it easier for crews and project managers to order materials needed and get the work done as quickly as possible.

Hicks said these projects couldn’t happen without the co-operation of the municipal, provincial and federal governments.

The second project, Blossom House by Crossroads for Women, will create a six-unit apartment building for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Stephanie Carver, affordable housing case manager for Crossroads for Women, said the new building will replace one in downtown Moncton that was destroyed by fire in September. She said the building is nearly complete and the first tenants will move in this month. The exact location was not stated for security reasons. Crossroads for Women also partnered with Rising Tide to take over a building in Dieppe which was converted into an apartment building for women and their children fleeing domestic violence.

The CMHC news release said Rising Tide will receive $5.08 million, which includes $3.1 million through the National Housing Strategy, $1.6 million in capital funding from the province of New Brunswick, ongoing co-operation from the City of Moncton and $273,454 through Rising Tide Community Initiative in land equity.

The Blossom House is receiving $1.7 million, which includes $780,000 through the National Housing Strategy, $420,000 through the Government of New Brunswick, capital funding (loan), $200,000 through the City of Moncton, capital funding (contribution) and $300,000 through Crossroads for Women Inc in cash equity.

The CMHC release said the federal government has invested an additional $1.5 billion in the Rapid Homes Initiative, for a total of $4 billion.

“This investment is expected to create at least 4,500 more affordable homes for Canadians in need across the country, with 25 per cent of investments going towards women-focused projects,” the news release said.