The Governments of Manitoba and Canada have announced that they will jointly set up a 36 unit affordable housing co-operative in the Brooklands area of Winnipeg, CA. The governments will jointly provide funds amounting to $7.77million to improve accessibility and quality of living for senior citizens.

The development will be constructed by Westlands Non-Profit Housing Cooperative. The funding has specifically been provided by Canada’s Economic Action Plan which is intended to increase job opportunities during recession.

The provincial and federal governments are also making contributions amounting to $176 million as per the Canada-Manitoba Affordable Housing Program Agreement which was amended recently. The announcement for the new development was made by the Honourable Kerri Irvin Ross, Minister of Housing and Community Development and Joyce Bateman, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre. The 36-unit development consists of 20 one-bedroom and 16 two-bedroom units. The rents for the units will be fixed at the current market rates prevalent in Winnipeg.

Minister Irvin-Ross stated that the Manitoba government aims to enhance housing availability, and the investment will make sure that affordable, secure and well-maintained housing is provided to senior citizens in the Brooklands area of Winnipeg.

The Government of Canada plans to invest an additional $2 billion in housing this year of which $1.7 million will be set aside for 605,000 residences under the social housing system. Manitoba has started a new strategy called HOMEWorks under which the Government will continue to make substantial contributions through support from the Canadian Government.

Source: http://www.gov.mb.ca/housing