Governments Of Canada And Saskatchewan Support New Rental Housing Project For Homelessness In Saskatoon

Press Release

October 22, 2018

The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan, along with the City of Saskatoon and SaskNative Rentals (SNR), officially opened Edwards Manor, a new 23-unit affordable and supportive housing project for people experiencing chronic and episodic homelessness in Saskatoon.

Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Social Services Minister and Minister Responsible for the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) Paul Merriman, City of Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark, and Camponi Housing Corporation and SaskNative Rentals Executive Director Toby Esterby, made the announcement today.

“Through the National Housing Strategy, our government is investing $40 billion to cut chronic homelessness in half through projects like Edwards Manor,” said Goodale.  “We are committed to creating culturally appropriate solutions to housing challenges.  These 23 units, along with crucial support services, are the latest example of how we’re working to help break the cycle of homelessness for some of Saskatoon’s most vulnerable residents.”

“We are pleased to support individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness in Saskatchewan,” Merriman said.  “Together with the Government of Canada, the City of Saskatoon and SaskNative Rentals, we are helping to make a difference for people in greatest housing need, beginning with safe, quality, affordable and supportive homes.  Congratulations to everyone involved for continuing to keep Saskatchewan strong.”

“Providing housing solutions for individuals and families is such an important way that we can work to create a resilient city for now and into the future,” Clark said.  “The strength of our community depends on making sure that everyone has a chance for success, and the houses that are opening today are a positive step forward for Saskatoon.  The City of Saskatoon is proud to help to make this project a reality, and I would like to thank the provincial and federal governments for their funding and SaskNative Rentals for providing valuable supports to residents.”

“As an organization, we are so proud of our team members and our partners coming together to make this project a reality,” Esterby said.  “With the support of the Government of Canada, the Government of Saskatchewan, the City of Saskatoon, and the good work of our community partners, we have been able to make this building a true first for the City of Saskatoon and the tenants we serve.  By meeting individuals and families where their needs are, and acknowledging that stabilized housing for these individuals requires intensive peer and cultural supports, we firmly believe that this program will have immediate and lasting effects for our tenants and our fine city.”

Quick facts:

• Located at 1106 Avenue W North in Saskatoon, Edwards Manor consists of 24 suites.  One serves as a resource room for support workers and tenants, and the remaining 23 units are for residents.
• The Government of Canada, through CMHC, and the Government of Saskatchewan, through SHC, jointly contributed $1.8 million toward the project under the Canada-Saskatchewan Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement (Social Infrastructure Fund).
• The City of Saskatoon provided $276,000 through its Innovative Housing Incentive program.
• Edwards Manor is owned by SNR, which works in partnership with Camponi Housing Corporation.  Together, they manage more than 400 units primarily for Métis and other Indigenous people.  Their Wrap Around Service (WAS) workers offer services to tenants such as counselling, employment readiness and addiction management.
• Tenant placements are, and will continue to be, a result of collaboration between SNR and Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre’s (SIMFC) Home Fire program.  Home Fire offers “housing first,” a recovery-oriented approach to ending homelessness.  People experiencing chronic and episodic homelessness are quickly moved into independent, permanent housing and provided with supports as requested.
• At Edwards Manor, WAS will collaborate with SIMFC’s Home Fire program to house the homeless, prevent evictions and improve quality of life.
• The Government of Canada is currently rolling out its National Housing Strategy (NHS)—an ambitious 10-year, $40 billion plan that will create 100,000 new housing units and lift 530,000 families out of housing need, as well as repair and renew more than 300,000 housing units and reduce chronic homelessness by 50 per cent.
• The NHS is built on strong partnerships between federal, provincial and territorial governments, and on continuous engagement with others, including municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, and the social and private sectors to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians.
• This project supports the Government of Saskatchewan’s goals to increase the supply of supportive housing options for people who are “hard-to-house” or at risk of homelessness.

Associated Links:

• As Canada’s authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry.  For more information, please visit www.cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.  To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit www.placetocallhome.ca.
• In October 2012, the Government of Saskatchewan released the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth: Vision 2020 and Beyond, which sets out the government’s vision for a province of 1.2 million people by 2020.  The plan identifies principles, goals and actions to ensure Saskatchewan is capturing the opportunities and meeting the challenges of a growing province.  Since 2007, the Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $780 million to develop or repair more than over 16,000 housing units across our province.  To learn more, visit www.saskatchewan.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Valerie Glazer
Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Ottawa
Phone: 819-654-5546
Email: valerie.glazer@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Leonard Catling
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Vancouver
Phone: 604-787-1787
Email: lcatling@cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Leya Moore
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3610
Email: leya.moore@gov.sk.ca

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