Media and Events

Construction is beginning on the $42.2 million Phase 1 of the Boyle Renaissance.

Phase 1 marks the beginning of the renaissance in downtown east and will bring:

• 150 progressive affordable housing rental units in the YMCA Welcome Village
• underground parkade accommodating 70 vehicles
• Family Resource Centre providing support to area parents and families
• licensed daycare to serve 76 children
• 14,000 square foot Community Centre for Boyle Street, surrounding communities and the Quarters Downtown development

Boyle Renaissance is the City of Edmonton's plan to invest in and renew the area between 95 Street and 96 Street, from 103A Avenue north to the LRT tracks. The Boyle Renaissance redevelopment will take place in phases over a number of years and will create a community that brings together a range of affordable and market housing opportunities. Phase 1 owners and operators met with 40 community service organizations to gather input and explain plans leading to the Phase 1 groundbreaking.

"Affordable housing is a priority for the Alberta government," said Jonathan Denis, Minister of Alberta Housing and Urban Affairs. "This project reflects the great community spirit and compassion of Edmontonians for their neighbours-the inclusive Welcome Village is aptly named."

Mayor Stephen Mandel notes the groundbreaking is a key step forward for the city. "Our citizens have made it clear that they want our city to move forward towards a positive and sustainable future. Made-in-the-community solutions will help us achieve our vision of a city made up of sustainable, vibrant communities. This project shows just that - together with our valuable partners, we are finding innovative ways to revitalize our core neighbourhoods."

"The YMCA of Edmonton is thankful for the support it has received for its vision of the Welcome Village:  a centre of the community where families, couples and single adults are warmly welcomed, and have the supports they need to make a successful transition to stable housing and to integrate into the community," said Franco Savoia, President & CEO for YMCA of Edmonton. "Without the support of our many partners and supporters this vision could not have been realized."

"CRHC is pleased to be a partner in the Boyle Renaissance development to expand the continuum of housing options, and support empowering families of modest means to become more independent and improve their quality of life," said Greg Bounds, Executive Director of the Capital Region Housing Corporation. "As a key partner of the Province of Alberta, the City of Edmonton and the YMCA, CRHC is committed to the long term success of the housing component of the Welcome Village."

"The Boyle Renaissance project brings welcome new energy, new residents and a new community centre to our community, and gives all residents a chance to be part of an exciting re-development and rejuvenation in the community we all share," says Thim Choy, President, Boyle Street Community League.

The first stage of construction will be for the community centre and include extensive excavation for the underground parkade. The Edmonton YMCA will operate the housing, daycare and family resource centre while the Boyle Street Community League will operate the new community centre. Project completion is targeted for Spring 2012.

YMCA Welcome Village progressive rental housing breakdown:

• Studios - 19
• One Bedroom - 61
• One Bedroom accessible - 15
• Two Bedrooms - 55

Total = 150

Boyle Renaissance Phase 1 project funding partners and investment:

• Government of Alberta:  $25 million
• City of Edmonton:   $13 million
• Edmonton YMCA:   $3 million
• Capital Region Housing Corporation:  $1.2 million

Total project cost = $42.2 million

Dear Sponsors & Golfers

On behalf of Capital Region Housing Foundation, we would like to thank you for making our Eighth Annual Hackers Fore Housing Charity Golf Tournament a great success!

A sincere and appreciative thank you to everyone who golfed, as well as our sponsors. With your help we were successful in raising over $37,000 for The HOME Program. This will provide low income households the opportunity to become homeowners through education, counselling, down payment assistance and ongoing support.

Your participation each year helps to make this tournament possible. We will continue to put our best efforts forward, to ensure we provide an enjoyable day for you!

Next year's tournament is scheduled for Wednesday June 8th, 2011, so please mark your calendars!

Yours Truly,

Hackers Fore Housing Tournament Committee

Canada and Alberta invest $90 million for repairs over the next two years

Calgary...Albertans living in social housing supported by the federal and provincial governments are getting some major home improvements thanks to a $90-million joint investment by the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta. The federal and provincial governments are each contributing $45 million over the next two years which includes funding under Canada's Economic Action Plan.

To date, almost $45 million in upgrades have been approved, which includes $20.2 million for Calgary, $20.4 million for Edmonton and $4 million for the remainder of Alberta. Work includes large-scale improvements like electrical, plumbing and ventilation system upgrades, and replacing doors, windows and roofs.

"Through Year 2 of Canada's Economic Action Plan, our Government remains committed to giving a hand up to those who need it most," said Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State for Seniors, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). "Projects like these are especially valuable right now, because they put construction workers and tradespeople to work quickly, while at the same time providing needed improvements to housing throughout the country."

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Homeless Edmontonians will soon have greater access to permanent housing thanks to the Province's 10-year plan to end homelessness and the 2009/10 housing for the homeless grant program.  Seven Edmonton-based organizations will partner with the Alberta government to develop 314 more housing units for the homeless.

"Our competitive grant program leverages local expertise and dollars, allowing the province to stretch taxpayers' dollars and build more homes for less," said Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Jonathan Denis.  "Together, government, non-profit organizations and private sector developers are providing not only much-needed housing; we are helping vulnerable Edmontonians transition to healthy, independent living."

Some of the housing units are being constructed from the ground up, while others will be purchased throughout the city. This allows some units to be made available quickly. Other units will come on stream later to assist clients as needed. Consistent with both the Alberta and Edmonton 10-year plans to end homelessness, in all cases residents will be provided with targeted supports and services they need to help them address the underlying causes of their homelessness.

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Families and individuals needing affordable housing will soon have access to 62 more below market rental units in the City of Edmonton. Three community partners, Capital Region Housing Corporation, Five Oaks Inc., and Native Counselling Services of Alberta will share $6.4 million in funding from the Alberta government to develop affordable rental units for an estimated 160 low- to moderate-income tenants.

"The province is proud to work with these community partners. They will develop these new units in an efficient manner, allowing the province to build more affordable housing and help more people."  said Jonathan Denis, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs. "Affordable housing supports the Premier's vision to create strong and vibrant Alberta communities."

Dear Golfers and Supporters of Affordable Housing

On behalf of the Capital Region Housing Corporation Group of Companies and our sponsors, it is my pleasure to invite you to participate in our Eigth Annual Hackers Fore Housing Charity Golf Tournament.

This prestigious event will be held:
Wednesday, June 9, 2010,
6:30 AM Registration Opens, Breakfast, Driving Range
8:00 AM Shotgun Start
Belvedere Golf & Country Club

One hundred and forty-four golfers will begin the day with an early morning breakfast, followed by an 8 AM shotgun start to 18 holes of play (Texas Scramble format) on an unforgettable golf course, compete for some fantastic prizes and end the day with a celebration dinner, all in support of meeting the housing needs of the less fortunate in our community.

Our goal this year is to raise $30,000 for The Home Program. This program is offered through CTD Housing Solutions Edmonton Ltd., a member of the CRHC Family of Companies, in partnership with Real Estate Industry Volunteers, the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Alberta Real Estate Council, and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The program provides low income households the opportunity to become homeowners through education, counseling, down payment assistance, and ongoing support. Program information is available online at www.thehomeprogram.ca.

Visit http://www.catchthedream.ca for more information!

Low to moderate income individuals are one-step closer to having a place to call home thanks to provincial funding for two new housing developments in Edmonton. This funding is expected to help create more than 40 additional housing units for low to moderate income Albertans.

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Edmonton... Low to moderate-income Albertans are one step closer to having an affordable place to live thanks to $24.9 million in provincial funding for the YMCA's new Welcome Village affordable housing project. This new endeavor is expected to develop 150 additional affordable housing units as well as create employment within the construction industry in Edmonton.

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The Fixed Rate Rental Supplement Pilot Project is one of several initiatives developed to implement Cornerstones, Edmonton's Plan for Affordable Housing 2006 - 2011. The Cornerstones Plan demonstrates the City of Edmonton's commitment to fulfilling its part to help create more affordable housing in Edmonton.

This Pilot Project will improve housing affordability for low-income households in up to 400 existing private rental housing units in Edmonton for the next five years. The Project will meet a major objective of Council's Cornerstones Plan to increase the affordable housing supply in Edmonton by 2,500 units over the next five years in partnership with other orders of government, industry and the community.

This Project will meet a major first-year objective of Edmonton City Council's Cornerstones Plan to increase the affordable housing supply in Edmonton by 2,500 units over the next five years in partnership with other orders of government, industry and the community.

Program Criteria:

• Under the Pilot Project, the funds will be used to reduce rents by an average of $200 per unit per month in up to 400 existing privately-owned rental units in Edmonton. The Project will increase affordability to households having affordability problems (paying more than 30% of income on rent), earning less than median incomes and being capable of independent living without a need for support services.
• Under the Grant Funding Agreement with the Province, the City of Edmonton will ensure that the first source of tenants for approved units is the Capital Region Housing Corporation applications wait list. In the absence of tenants from that wait list, the Capital Region Housing Corporation would arrange for tenants who would qualify for placement on that wait list. Funding provided to for-profit and not-for-profit landlords under the pilot will be administered through an agreement between the City of Edmonton and the Capital Region Housing Corporation.
• Boardwalk Rental Communities (BRC) - the first major landlord partner under the Pilot Project - has agreed to provide up to 200 units of BRC owned and managed rental stock in Edmonton based on the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation average market rent adjusted annually less the fixed rate rent supplement.<\li>
• All landlords participating in the project must enter into legal agreements with the Capital Region Housing Corporation
• Designated units under the Pilot Project will comprise a minority of the total number of rental units in any particular building to encourage the integration of subsidized units into the community.

Funding for the Project:
The Project will receive a total of $5 million to be utilized over 5 years.

• The City of Edmonton, Province of Alberta and Government of Canada through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation have developed a proposal to cost-share on a 50/25/25 basis a Fixed-Rate Rent Supplement Pilot Project over the next five years.
• The Province and Federal government's share of the $5 million Pilot Project is to be funded through a $2.5 million grant to the City under the Federal/Provincial Affordable Housing Program. The City of Edmonton's $2.5 million share is to be funded under the Edmonton Cornerstones Plan.

First Landlord Project Partner:

• Boardwalk Rental Communities (BRC) -- has agreed to provide 200 or more units of BRC rental stock in Edmonton based on the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation average market rent adjusted annually less the fixed rate rent supplement.

Approximately $15 million in federal and provincial funds has been allocated to facilitate the development of 11 affordable housing projects that will create 314 units of affordable housing in Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge, Leduc and Rocky Mountain House. This funding completes year three (2003-04) of the Canada- Alberta Affordable Housing Program.

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