Winnipeg housing projects with focus on affordable housing get $58.5M

More than two dozen housing projects in Winnipeg totalling 2,487 new units – more than half of which will be affordable housing – are getting funding from the federal and municipal governments.

Twelve housing projects focused on affordable housing and developments in downtown Winnipeg are getting $25 million in capital grants under the Housing Accelerator Fund capital grant program.

The projects are projected to create 1,418 new housing units with 633 affordable units.

“Through programs like the housing accelerator fund, we’re making it easier for young families to have a place that they can call home,” said Terry Duguid, the federal minister of sport and prairies economic development.

Another 16 housing development projects will receive $33.5 million in tax increment financing through Winnipeg’s Affordable Housing Now Program.

“This is critical because every family deserves security of a home that they can afford, regardless of income,” Mayor Scott Gillingham said.

“Our city has grown by 71,000 people in three years.”

Construction on the total 2,487 new housing units – of which 1,295 will be affordable homes – is expected to being within the next year. Total construction costs are expected to exceed $1.6 billion.

“This means hundreds of construction jobs, more opportunities for local business and a stronger economic foundation for our city,” Gillingham said.

“We’re giving renters a path to home ownership, helping communities grow in a way that works for everyone and ensuring young people can build their future right here in Winnipeg.”

One of the projects will see Winnipeg’s North End Women’s Centre add eight transitional units – doubling their capacity.

“It will have wraparound supports in place which will support people in everything from counselling, parenting programs, life skills development, anything that people might need,” said executive director Cynthia Drebot.

Drebot says more than 1,200 people experience homelessness every night in Winnipeg, with another 4,000 experiencing hidden homelessness.

She says bringing more affordable housing to the North End is essential. “The incidence of low income in Winnipeg is 12.9 per cent, but in the North End it’s 32 per cent, which is 2.5 times the Winnipeg average.”

Officials say construction will start as soon as possible, as every housing accelerator fund project is required to have a building permit within 12 months.