More Affordable Housing Announced for Cape Breton Residents

Cape Breton residents will soon have access to more affordable housing in Sydney, North Sydney and Sydney Mines. Through the Canada-Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Agreement, 130 units of affordable housing for families, singles, seniors and people with disabilities are being built or renovated.

Judy Streatch, Minister of Community Services and Gerald Keddy, MP for South Shore - St. Margaret's, on behalf of Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, announced today, Oct. 5, two new projects and confirmed construction has started on a third previously announced project.

"We are committed to investing in affordable housing in Cape Breton," said Ms. Streatch. "With the help of our federal partners and business partners, we are creating and preserving affordable housing across the island."

"Canada's government is committed to making affordable housing available in Nova Scotia and across Canada for those who need it most," said Mr. Keddy. "The creation of these new units will allow families, seniors and low-income individuals to live in safe, quality housing at an affordable cost and start a new page in their lives."

Through the Canada-Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Agreement, the federal government contributed $1.9 million in capital funding for the three projects and the Department of Community Services is providing $285,000 to subsidize rents for some of the units.

Northside Property Holdings is converting a former commercial building at 177 Queen St., in North Sydney into six family apartments, including one wheelchair-accessible unit. The project cost is estimated at $282,000. The project received $108,000 from the government of Canada under the Canada-Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Agreement.

In Sydney, Donovan Rentals renovated 104 affordable family rowhouses at MacAulay's Lane, Rockcliff Crescent and Sidella Drive. The $1.3-million project received $1.2 million in federal funding under the agreement.

The third project, by New Deal Developments, is a 20-unit affordable-housing project for singles and seniors on Pitt Street in Sydney Mines. The $1.3-million project is under construction and will receive $500,000 in federal funding and $285,000 in rent subsidies from the province of Nova Scotia.

By March 2009, the federal government, the province and its partners will commit $56.2 million through the Canada-Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Agreement for the construction or renovation of affordable housing in the province.

Information on the Canada-Nova Scotia Affordable Housing agreement is available at local housing services offices or on the Department of Community Services website at www.gov.ns.ca/coms.