Two new affordable housing projects, millions in funding for more in Calgary

Federal officials stood alongside Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek and members of the local housing and development community Tuesday to announce a huge boost to the local housing framework.

Calgary is one of the 41 recipients of the third round of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Rapid Housing Initiative’s city stream, set up to help create at least 64 new units across two projects.

Across the federal, provincial, and municipal governments, the city will see more than $23 million in funding.

Gondek says everyone has a common goal.

“If we’re not all pulling together it’s going to be incredibly difficult to make sure everyone can live with dignity and these projects are a great example of how the private sector has very willingly stepped forward and how you’ve got governments that are willing to work together — we couldn’t do it without each other,” she said.

One of the projects, called Hope Heights, is being developed by HomeSpace Society into a four-story apartment building located at 117 12 Street NE in the community of Crescent Heights.

This project includes 35 one-bedroom rental units, with at least 12 units designated for women and/or women and children.

There will also be wrap-around support services onsite for residents.

Hope Heights received $7.3 million from the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI), $875,975.00 from the City of Calgary, $2.1 million from the Government of Alberta, and a $1.3 million donation from Calgary builder Hopewell.

Construction is expected to be finished in the fall.

Another project nearing completion is a low-rise apartment building with 29 affordable units near Westbrook Mall.

The building, constructed by Onward, will be mostly two-bedroom units for women and children.

It received $8.3 million from the RHI, $1.1 million from the city, and $3.4 million from the province.

Construction on this project, called Killarney, is expected to wrap up in late summer.

Gondek adds projects like these are necessary to move the city forward.

“Our neighbourhoods are better and richer when we’ve got all kinds of folks living there and if we want to be known as a city that people want to live in, that people want to move to, and feel they’re welcomed in, we need to have housing for everyone in all of our communities,” she said.

Developers anticipate rent for units in these buildings will cost around 40 per cent less than the going market rate.

“It’s the foundation we need for a happy and healthy life,” George Chahal, MP for Calgary-Skyview, said. “This funding will provide 65 homes for those that need them the most.”

The third round of the Rapid Housing Initiative is expected to help build over 5,200 new homes in Canada, bringing the total number of homes supported by the initiative to over 15,500.

-With files from Logan Stein