The Manitoba government is introducing a new funding model that will provide non-profit housing organizations with subsidies to help maintain affordable rents and up to 8,511 social and community housing units throughout the province.
“Strengthening supports for the non-profit housing sector is critical to achieving our government’s goal of ending chronic homelessness,” said Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith. “In situations like the one with Lions Place under the previous government, we see how seniors are impacted by a loss in affordable housing. This new funding model will ensure organizations have the necessary resources to continue providing housing for seniors and families at affordable, sustainable rates.”
The new model will provide non-profit organizations with stable, predictable funding, as determined by an evaluation matrix. Depending on specific needs, organizations could receive monthly subsidies that will help cover operating costs and capital requirements without raising rents.
“Collaboration between the federal government and our provincial partners in facilitating the development of more affordable housing is crucial to closing the housing supply gap,” said federal Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, minister responsible for PrairiesCan and member of Parliament for Saint Boniface-Saint Vital. “Through the National Housing Strategy and this new funding model, we are supporting Manitoba, and its non-profit housing sector with a sustainable system to keep rents low while addressing crucial housing needs. I am proud to see the strong collaboration and partnership from all levels of government through announcements such as this which put Canadians’ needs first.”
The subsidies will be presented as predictable, annual funding to reduce administrative burden and give organizations the flexibility to address the needs of their housing portfolios as a whole, instead of through building-specific agreements, Smith noted, adding that subsidy recipients cannot unilaterally assign or transfer their agreement, which will prevent non-profit projects from being sold to the private sector without due process.
“Non-profit housing organizations have long track records, many of 40 to 50 years of providing safe, dignified, affordable housing across Manitoba. They want to keep doing it for the next generation of Manitobans,” said Christina Maes Nino, executive director, Manitoba Non-Profit Housing Association. “The non-profit sector welcomes a new and modern funding model that will allow them to repair and maintain the homes while keeping rents affordable for seniors, families, and individuals who need them most.”
Funding for the subsidies will flow through the Canada Community Housing Initiative stream of the National Housing Strategy (NHS) bilateral agreement, which is specifically intended to protect, regenerate and expand social and community housing units with recently or soon-to-be expired operating agreements.
The NHS agreement is the Government of Canada’s $82-billion plan to give more Canadians a place to call home. Progress on programs and initiatives are updated quarterly at placetocallhome.ca.
