Federal Investment to Modernize 56 Indigenous Rental Homes on Prince Edward Island
The federal government is investing more than $2.2 million to renovate 56 affordable rental units on P.E.I. for Indigenous people, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) announced Tuesday.
The funding flows through CMHC’s Affordable Housing Fund to support upgrades in Charlottetown, Cornwall and Summerside. The properties are owned and operated by Nanegkam Housing Corporation, under the Native Council of P.E.I. It’s already making a difference across the Island, said Nanegkam housing manager David Rooney.
“They say, ‘I can’t believe this. I have to pinch myself … I’ve never lived in a place like this before. Hopefully no one’s going to take this away from me,’” said Rooney, outside 26 Allen St. in the provincial capital, a four-bedroom home being fixed up.
Rooney said every unit will be rent-geared-to-income, including heating costs. He said the Native Council has an extensive waiting list, and applications will be anonymized for the vetting process to determine the best fit for units.
Bradley Cooper, political adviser to the Native Council of P.E.I., said Indigenous peoples represent one in three emergency-shelter users, with Indigenous women in particular representing 80 per cent.
“Speaking with many of our front-line staff members working with the homeless and underhoused population, we see these numbers reflected in P.E.I.,” Cooper said, reading a statement on behalf of council chief Lisa Cooper, who could not attend.
Sean Casey, the Liberal MP for Charlottetown, was at the announcement. He says finding affordable housing right now is incredibly difficult.
“We have one of the lowest vacancy rates in the country. That’s particularly acute for the more vulnerable,” he said.
CMHC says this effort sits within the National Housing Strategy, a more than 10-year, $115-billion-plus federal plan to expand access to housing. A key tool is the Affordable Housing Fund, a $16.1-billion program that provides low-interest or forgivable loans and contributions for new affordable housing, as well as for the renovation and repair of existing affordable and community housing.
The fund prioritizes projects for people who need it most, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous peoples, people living with disabilities, those with mental health or addiction issues, veterans and young adults.
CMHC says it expects Budget 2025, set to be tabled next month, will build on this momentum with further measures to lower costs for builders, catalyse private capital and double the pace of homebuilding across Canada.
This article was first reported by CTV News
