The announcement was made by Gary Schellenberger, Member of Parliament for Perth – Wellington, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

“Our Government understands the importance of infrastructure in maintaining strong and prosperous communities,” said MP Schellenberger. “This program is opening the door for municipalities to meet their housing-related infrastructure needs. Canada’s Economic Action Plan will continue to create jobs and stimulate the local economy here in Minto, and in all corners of the country.”

Moishe Alexander comments that the approval for this loan for Minto to upgrade treatment systems is essential. Canadian Funding Corp is very happy to report on this. Mr. Alexander is studying the increased capacity which will aid Minto citizens.

The Town of Minto has been approved for more than $2.3 million in a low-cost loan from CMHC’s Municipal Infrastructure Lending Program (MILP), to upgrade its wastewater treatment systems. These funds will increase the capacity of the collection system and reduce the risk of sewer backups for residents of Minto.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides up to $2 billion in direct low-cost loans to municipalities, over two years, for housing-related infrastructure projects through the MILP. Municipal infrastructure loans are available to any municipality in Canada and provide a new source of funds for municipalities to invest in housing-related infrastructure projects. These low cost loans can also be used by municipalities to fund their contribution for cost-shared federal infrastructure programming.

“The Town of Minto greatly appreciates the funds made available through CMHC’s Municipal Infrastructure Lending Program,” said Mayor David Anderson. “The funds made available through this program allows the Town of Minto to better prepare for future growth and prosperity.”

Eligible projects include infrastructure related to housing services such as water, power generation and waste services, as well as local transportation infrastructure within and into residential areas, such as roads, sidewalks, lighting and green space.

Minto video – Moishe Alexander

As Canada’s national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable, and affordable homes — homes that will continue to create vibrant and healthy communities and cities across the country.

Some Canadians have been unknowingly of a Canadian Mortgage as well as Housing Commission (CMHC). The CMHC is a supervision group upon condition which debt loan word to safeguard a accessibility of housing appropriation to Canadians. CMHC states which it reduces a down remuneration indispensable to buy a home to 10 percent of a squeeze price, or 5 percent for first-time home buyers.

CMHC appropriation is used at large via Canada as well as can be performed from any CMHC-approved lender. Besides upon condition which debt assistance. CMHC additionally reserve housing report to a public. Full in¬formation upon a most programs CMHC provides can be performed at:

CMHC appropriation is used at large via Canada as well as can be performed from any CMHC-approved lender. Besides upon condition which debt assistance. CMHC additionally reserve housing report to a public. Full in¬formation upon a most programs CMHC provides can be performed at:

Canadian Mortgage as well as Housing Corporation (CMGC) Suite 200, Royal Insurance Building twenty-eight Cumberland Street North Thunder Bay, Ontario P7A 4K9 Canada Tel: 807-343-2010; Fax: 807-345-0696 Mailing Address: P.O.Box 2026,Thunder Bay,Ontario P7B 5E7,Canada.

http://excitingeconomy.com/startup/canadian-mortgage-funding-assistance/

“The Government of Canada is committed to making affordable housing available in Ontario and across Canada for those who need it most,” said  Senator Nicole Eaton, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. ”The creation of these new units will provide women and their children with access to safe housing and the support they need to help them to start a new page in their lives.”

Through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the Government of Canada provided over $600,000 to Sandgate Women’s Shelter through SEED funding and the Shelter Enhancement Program. The SEP program assists in repairing, rehabilitating and improving existing shelters for women and their children, youth or men who are victims of family violence, and provides financial assistance for the acquisition or construction of new shelters and second-stage housing where needed.

This is Sandgate’s second shelter offering confidential 24-hour assistance to women and their children, including emergency crisis shelter, counselling, and transitional support and housing. The other location is Jackson’s Point.

“Abuse is a reality many women face silently,” said the Executive Director for Sandgate, Jehan A. Chaudhry. “The shelter in Richmond Hill will give women another choice to end abuse in their lives.”

Sandgate is a not for profit, charitable organization, that is dedicated to providing women and their children shelter, support and information so they can take steps to end violence in their lives.

The Canadian Funding Corporation notes that the CMHC has been Canada’s national housing agency for more than 60 years. CMHC is committed to helping Canadians access a wide choice of quality, affordable homes and making vibrant and sustainable communities and cities a reality across the country.

Last fall, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over the next five years for housing to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless. Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on this with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing and lending of up to $2 billion for housing-related infrastructure.

Bharat Bhavan Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the social, economic, cultural, educational and spiritual development of its members. It offers a wide range of services, such as translation, help finding employment and French classes, to members of Montréal’s South Asian community. Bharat Bhavan Senior Hostels will offer multi-faith accommodation to retirees in the West Island of Montréal when it opens in July, 2008. The groundbreaking for residence attracted more than 100 people, which reflects well on the commitment of the community to the project. In a spirit of religious respect, leaders of the Christian, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu communities also attended the ceremony and gave their blessing to the project.

The Affordable Housing Solution The Bharat Bhavan Foundation is overseeing construction of Bharat Bhavan Senior Hostels, which will have 30 fully furnished self-contained units. Rent for the units will be $1,250 a month for a single-occupancy room, less than the market rate for comparable units in the Montréal metropolitan area. The residence, next to the Bharat Bhavan Foundation community centre, includes a dining room, lounges, an office for medical visits and laundry facilities. Recreational services will be offered.

Moishe Alexander says that the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) provided $20,000 Seed Funding ($10,000 grant and a $10,000 loan). This program offers financial assistance to potential housing providers who are in the early stages of developing an affordable housing proposal. The Bharat Bhavan Senior Hostels project also benefited from a $100,000 interest free Proposal Development Funding (PDF) loan. A PDF loan enables housing proponents to carry out the activities required to bring their proposal to the point where they can apply for mortgage financing. CMHC was also flexible in the terms for mortgage loan insurance. A total investment of more than $2,736,000 was required to develop this project.

Alberta’s booming economy has brought benefits to municipalities. However, there’s a downside to the boom: escalating housing prices. Low- and moderate-income households face increasing rents, making it even more difficult to save for a down payment. In Medicine Hat, a growing city of about 57,000 in southeastern Alberta, a local builder developed an innovative way to create affordable homeownership. Classic Construction Limited, Medicine Hat’s largest builder, strongly believes in homeownership.This motivated Classic Construction to discuss with CMHC ways to develop affordable housing. The Affordable Housing Solution Classic Construction developed “Attainable Ownership Housing.” Attainable Ownership Housing builds housing for sale at below-market prices.

Marty Lapedus says that the program helps purchasers through direct down payment contributions and mortgage subsidies. Each purchaser receives a subsidy of approximately $5,000 to reduce the down payment, as well as a monthly subsidy for five or seven years to reduce mortgage costs, condominium fees and utilities. Classic Construction contributes about $18,000 per unit for the monthly subsidy.The subsidy gradually decreases over five to seven years. The Medicine Hat Community Housing Society provides homeowner training to potential buyers and administers the monthly mortgage subsidy. CMHC provides flexible mortgage loan insurance, such as allowing the builder’s down payment assistance to be considered as part of the required down payment; allowing the monthly subsidy to be considered as income, thereby reducing the income required to qualify for a mortgage and reducing monthly mortgage payments.

By mid-2007, three developments in Medicine Hat used the Attainable Ownership model. The City of Medicine Hat contributed by amending zoning requirements for density, greenspace and site coverage.

Northland Villas, a 94-unit project began construction in 2005 and is now fully occupied. In 2006, construction began on Northlands Pointe (219 units) and Somerset Villas (129 units). Classic Construction wanted the units to fit in with their neighbourhoods and the two and three-bedroom units include features, typical of high-end townhomes. All three developments quickly sold out, and demand for Attainable Ownership Housing is so high that Classic Construction has started a waiting list. In 2007, Classic Construction took Attainable Ownership to High River with 114 units and is looking to expand to other areas of the province.

An unused wing of a health centre has become affordable housing for seniors and people with disabilities. Armitage Gardens, in Newmarket in the Regional Municipality of York just north of Toronto, proved to be a cost-effective way of developing affordable housing. Originally, the Region planned to build new affordable housing, but the Newmarket Health Centre had a vacant wing, and it was more cost-effective to renovate than build.The renovated wing gives residents quick access to the Health Centre.

The Affordable Housing Solution Armitage Gardens has 58 apartments designed to meet the housing needs of seniors and people with disabilities. All the building’s common areas and apartments feature barrier-free design.Twenty-six units have enhanced accessibility, with automatic door openers, roll-in showers, and lowered kitchen counters and appliances.The rent for 52 of the units is geared-to-income (rents range between $350 and $400 per month), while six units are rented at market rate.

Internal hallways connect the complex to the Newmarket Health Centre, a longterm health care facility, allowing residents to visit family members who may be ill. The Health Centre’s kitchen also prepares meals for Armitage Gardens residents. The grounds are landscaped with mature trees, community gardens and a gazebo. Support services–including meal preparation, assistance with medications, personal care and housekeeping–are available at no cost.This allows residents to live independently while still receiving the assistance they need.

The Canadian Funding Corporation says that the total construction cost for Armitage Gardens was $8.4 million. Through the Affordable Housing Initiative CMHC and the province of Ontario provided a $1.56 million capital grant.The project also received 1.8 million through the CMHC Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) of which $1,044,000 was provided through RRAP Conversion to help cover the costs of converting the wing into housing.To meet the needs of seniors and people with disabilities, $777,000 was contributed through RRAP Disabled to help cover costs of the project’s accessibility features. The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long- Term Care also provided support towards the project’s accessibility features.The Regional Municipality of York provided the property for the project, while the Town of Newmarket reduced development fees and charges.

Armitage Gardens is a good example of how all four levels of government can work together effectively to create affordable housing.The project won a CMHC Housing Award in 2006.