NEWS RELEASE
CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORP.
************************* New seniors housing in Batchewana First Nation SAULT STE. MARIE, ON, Dec. 7 - Batchewana Nation was joined by community members to celebrate a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the Batchewana First Nation Elders Complex that will feature six one-bedroom and four two-bedroom apartments for senior band members.
(Shown are Batchewana First Nation Chief Dean Sayers and Sault Mayor John Rowswell) The new units were made possible thanks in part to a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) direct loan of $892,000. "Canada's new government is proud to partner with the members of this community to make this complex a reality, and they are to be applauded for bringing this project to completion," said the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health and for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and Minister responsible for CMHC. "The construction of the elders' complex marks an important step forward for the people of the Batchewana First Nation community." "The elders in our community have been waiting for a facility that would reunite them with their peers and we are excited to be able to provide them with this elders' complex," said Chief Dean Sayers. "Our community will benefit having our elders and seniors in close proximity." The Section 95 On-Reserve Non-Profit Rental Housing Program assists First Nations in the construction, purchase and rehabilitation, and administration of quality housing for Aboriginal people living on-reserve. Annually, on behalf of the Government of Canada, CMHC provides approximately $123M in support of Aboriginal housing needs on-reserve.
This funding supports the construction of new homes, the repair of existing homes, the ongoing subsidy of some 25,000 households and an investment in capacity building for aboriginal living on-reserve.
CMHC is also encouraging more homeownership on-reserve through mortgage loan insurance.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has been Canada's national housing agency for over 60 years.
CMHC is committed to helping Canadians access a wide choice of quality, affordable homes, while making vibrant, healthy communities and cities a reality across the country.
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