$1 Million Announced for Major Home Repairs

More than 30 low-income families in Nova Scotia will receive help with extensive repairs to their homes under the Home Preservation Program of the Canada-Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Program Agreement.

David Morse, Nova Scotia's Minister of Community Services, and Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced on Feb. 25 that a total of $1 million will be made available for the Home Preservation Program for the remainder of this fiscal year. The federal-provincial funding will help address health and safety concerns by ensuring that homes meet current standards and will extend the lives of these homes by at least 15 years.

"This program will allow people to remain in their homes -- many of which have been in their families for generations," said Mr. Morse. "It will also improve their quality of life by providing them with a healthy, safe and comfortable living environment."

"The government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), is committed to sustaining vital, healthy communities by helping preserve the housing stock for low-income Canadians in need," said Mr. Regan. "This investment in Nova Scotia will advance our national housing strategy to provide safe, affordable housing, to protect the existing affordable housing stock from demolition, and to create new affordable housing units."

The Home Preservation Program is an important component of the federal-provincial affordable housing agreement, since Nova Scotia has some of the oldest homes and one of the highest rates of home ownership in the country. Funding will be spread across the province and made available each year under the agreement.

Assistance will be provided to households based on level of need and household income. Levels of assistance are expected to range between $20,000 and $35,000 per household, depending on actual repair requirements and contributions from other sources.

Initial funding will be provided to households with long-standing applications that exceed the $16,000 maximum assistance level under the existing Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program. New applications will be accepted beginning April 1.

This is the first funding announcement for the Home Preservation Program -- one of four programs under the Canada-Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Program Agreement. To date, two other projects have been announced under other agreement programs: a 15-unit townhouse complex in the Annapolis Valley under the New Rental Program and six semi-detached homes in Halifax under the New Home Ownership Program.

A provincewide request for proposals for other affordable housing projects is expected to be issued within the next couple of weeks.

It is expected up to 1,500 affordable housing units will be created or renovated under the $37.3-million affordable housing agreement by 2007. The government of Canada, through CMHC, will contribute $18.6 million. These funds will be matched by the province and other housing partners, as part of a larger strategy to provide a range of housing options for Nova Scotians.

Further information on this program is available by contacting your local Housing Services Office: Halifax, 902-424-5110; Middleton, 902-825-3481 or 1-800-564-3483; New Glasgow, 902-755-5065 or 1-800-933-2101; Sydney, 902-563-2120 or 1-800-567-2135.