LONDON: Kate Young, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (FedDev Ontario) and Member of Parliament for London West, and Ed Holder, Mayor of the City of London, have announced details of the $7.5 million Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) allocation for the City of London.
This funding will play a crucial role in achieving greater housing accessibility, by providing 61 new safe and affordable homes across London.
The much-needed project will focus on priority and vulnerable populations consistent with the objectives of the Rapid Housing Initiative and the City’s Housing Stability Action Plan.
With $1 billion allocated through the RHI, the Government of Canada will support the construction of up to 3,000 permanent, new affordable housing units across the country to help address urgent housing needs for Canadians, especially our most vulnerable.
Delivered by CMHC, under the National Housing Strategy (NHS), RHI provides the necessary capital contributions to develop new, permanently affordable housing by covering costs associated with modular multi-unit rental construction; conversion of non-residential to affordable multi-residential; and, rehabilitation of buildings in disrepair and/or abandoned, to affordable multi-residential.
Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. said: “The Rapid Housing Initiative will go a long way to effectively support those who need it most.
By working in close collaboration with the City of London, we are able to respond quickly to act on this urgent need and to build needed housing more rapidly for Canadians across the city.”
Kate Young said: “London is in urgent need of safe and affordable housing for our most vulnerable citizens. The Government of Canada and the City of London have been working to identify projects and deliver the dollars to address this local crisis. Today’s announcement means necessary shelter is on its way for those Londoners who need it most.”