Shawinigan, Quebec: The Federal Government is contrinbuting $850,000 in the form of a forgivable loan for the J’ai mon appart’ project in Shawinigan.
The announcement was made by François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and Member of Parliament for Saint – Maurice — Champlain, on behalf of tAhmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with Michel Angers, Mayor of Shawinigan.
This investment is made possible thanks the National Housing Co-investment Fund (NHCF), a key pillar of the Government of Canada’s National Housing Strategy. Construction of the two-storey building is well underway at 1520 10th Avenue in the GrandMère sector.
This project will consist of 12 affordable units that will house people living with an intellectual disability (ID) or an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as a resource person.
Supervision services will be offered 24/7 to tenants to enable them to live in apartments and benefit from adapted services that meet their needs for autonomy and self-determination. Construction of the project began in the spring of 2021 and will be completed in December of the same year.
François-Philippe Champagne said: “We believe in giving everyone a chance to succeed. That’s why we are extremely pleased to support this wonderful project. This innovative and collaborative initiative will provide future tenants with more inclusive and affordable housing in the community they call home. It’s a testament to the resilience of our community – and another example of the National Housing Strategy at work.”
Mayor Michel Angers said: “From the beginning of this adventure, we have accompanied our friends at J’ai mon appart’ to help them find a location for this promising project. Our city is open to diversity and welcomes the establishment of J’ai mon appart’. We wish to highlight the courage and perseverance of the parents and wish them all the success they deserve.”
“The achievement of the J’ai mon appart’ project in Shawinigan demonstrates that when a whole community focuses on openness and solidarity, it can contribute to improving living conditions for people living with disabilities. The financial assistance granted by the federal government is one such example: it allows us to build a building that meets high accessibility and energy efficiency standards. This is a great step forward!”
In total, J’ai mon appart’ received a total of $898,000 in financial assistance, including $48,000 from the Seed Funding program and $850,000 from the NHCF. This project meets the NHCF accessibility requirements. All units are adapted for people living with a disability. In the absence of an elevator, only the six ground floor units are accessible for people with reduced mobility.
The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency by 26.3% compared to the National Energy Code for Buildings — Canada 2015. In 2019, CMHC commissioned research examining the diverse housing needs of individuals with disabilities.
With a budget of $13.2 billion, the NHCF gives priority to projects that help people who need it most, including women and children fleeing violence, seniors, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, mental health or addiction issues, veterans and young adults. Through the NHCF, the Government of Canada will work with partners to build up to 60,000 new affordable homes.