Photo by Manfred Joehnck
Ground was broken this morning for a new special needs housing complex to be built in North Central Regina, a couple of blocks from the old Taylor Field.
The $1.4-million Samaritan Project is among a dozen new affordable housing projects being built around the province.
The Samaritan project will provide 17 affordable living units for people and couples with complex needs. It will be run by the Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, which also has a daycare, a soup kitchen, and other affordable housing in the neighbourhood.
The new facility will provide a comfortable home that offers supports for people living with physical or cognitive disabilities, mental illness, addictions and behavioural disorders who are unable to live on their own. Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says proper housing is essential for everyone.
“Investments in affordable housing are absolutely fundamental to strong healthy successful communities, right across the country,” he says.
The executive director of Souls Harbour, Joe Miller, says the new project fits in well with Soul Harbour’s mandate and the people it serves.
“We have people that have a variety of challenges, complex needs — and we have what I call the working poor,” he says. “You know, we have got a lot of people that are just trying to make ends meet.”
The price tag with be shared by the federal government, the province and the city.
The federal and provincial governments are providing nearly $9 million to fund a dozen new projects in five communities in Saskatchewan.
Methy Housing in La Loche will receive $1.5 million. A $900-thousand seniors home will also be built in the community.
Other projects include nearly $2.3 million for Saskatoon, including $1.7 million for SaskNative Rentals.
The following is the complete list of projects scheduled for announcement over the next few months.
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$1,425,000 for Souls Harbour – Samaritan Project in Regina;
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$1,575,000 for Namerind Housing Corporation – Raising Hope in Regina;
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$400,000 for Habitat for Humanity Haultain Crossing III in Regina;
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$1,724,000 for SaskNative Rentals – Edwards Manor in Saskatoon;
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$300,000 for Habitat for Humanity Slimmon Road II in Saskatoon;
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$262,500 for The Lighthouse – Co-Housing Project in Saskatoon;
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$50,000 for a Habitat for Humanity home in Estevan;
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$1,574,214 for two Methy Housing Corporation projects in La Loche;
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$912,000 for affordable housing for seniors in La Loche; and
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$450,000 for two trades training student builds in La Loche and Île-à-la-Crosse.
In all, Goodale says an extra $54 million will be spent on Saskatchewan housing needs over the next two years.