On Feb. 27, Alberta NDP Minister of Seniors and Housing Lori Sigurdson announced over $14 million in funding for repairs and upgrades to community housing and seniors’ housing in rural Alberta.
Funding in the Banff-Cochrane constituency is going to housing provider partners; over $115,000 to Bow Valley Regional Housing (BVRH) and $6,000 to Legion West Heritage Society.
The funds follow extra maintenance funding BVRH received in 2016.
“This is one of the practical ways that our government is working to make life better for rural Albertans and for seniors,” said Banff-Cochrane MLA Cam Westhead.
“Seniors deserve a government that makes life better for them. Having upgraded fire safety systems, new hot water tanks and upgraded furnaces and buildings will make our seniors safer and improve their quality of life,” said Joanna McCallum, BVRH chairperson and Canmore councillor.
“The $115,000 has been earmarked for fire system upgrades in Bow River Homes. The surplus of (BVRH’s) $295,000 that we were able to keep last year (first time in corporate memory) will be spent across our social housing (both seniors and family) on much needed maintenance projects, including parking lots repairs, fencing replacement and repair, painting, furnace and hot water heater replacement.”
The Alberta government states these investments will help keep people and companies in rural Alberta working, and the $1.2 billion over five years allocated in Budget 2016 will help create thousands of jobs.
“Previous governments didn’t place a high priority on seniors housing or on low-income housing, and a huge backlog built up over time for these types of repairs. We understand how important it is for seniors and low-income people in rural Alberta to have safe and well-maintained housing,” said Westhead.
He suggests further funding announcements will be coming over the next two years for upgrades to existing housing and new housing for seniors and low-income Albertans.
“I’ve been meeting and working closely with Joanna and BVRH in general about their plans for the different phases of their upgrades to their buildings they’re planning.” said Westhead. “We’ve had a good working relationship and trying to meet the needs of the community and working with them to see their plans come to life.
“This one was specifically targeted at smaller communities and rural centres, we want people to understand we are looking outside of the major cities. It tends to be a misconception that Calgary and Edmonton get all the money and nobody else does – we also want to make sure people understand we know we need to make investment in rural areas as well.”
Westhead said the provincial government is committed to working with communities to build facilities they need and for crucial upgrades. He also wants the public to take advantage of the Seniors’ Home Adaptation and Repair Program (SHARP). The program helps individuals make repairs to their home, ranging from replacing shingles on a roof to more specific renovations, including wheelchair accessibility.
Westhead said the public is welcome to call his office if they need help accessing the details. Visit, www.seniors-housing.alberta.ca for online information about the SHARP program.
Westhead said funding for seniors and community housing is one way the government strives to protect and improve the lives of Albertans. A future focus will be on building new long-term and dementia care beds, supporting education and health care.
“Many of these buildings were built long ago and are showing signs of their age. BVRH supports the government’s move to make life better for seniors in rural Alberta and applauds these important investments for affordable housing,” said McCallum.
