'Rapid' federal housing project sees 16 affordable homes in Labrador

The ribbon was cut for 16 new affordable homes in Happy Valley-Goose Bay Friday. 

Some of the funding for the homes came from a federal program called the Rapid Housing Initiative. It enabled municipalities to pitch urgent housing solutions. In Happy Valley-Goose Bay, one project resulted in $5 million for four complexes with four units each.

Four of the homes are two-bedroom and 12 are one-bedroom. Housing Minister John Abbott told CBC News that two ground-level units are fully wheelchair accessible.

Abbott says the units feature comfortable, state-of-the-art design, and that tenants should feel as though they can stay for a long time. 

These 16 units are part of N.L. Housing's portfolio, and will prioritize its existing waitlist as tenants are welcomed from November into December. There are 52 people on that waitlist in the community, but Abbott says funding has been approved through other programs to build more affordable homes. 

As for communities west of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Abbott says Newfoundland and Labrador Housing is in talks with Labrador City about a potential project that would entail apartment-style buildings. He added that $12 million has been allocated to the repairs of several N.L. Housing units on the North Coast of Labrador, which will begin "as quickly as possible."

Tenants of the 16 units revealed on Friday will be provided with a heating subsidy, to maintain its affordability.

Dean Clarke of Churchill Construction Limited says energy efficiency was a requirement of this housing project.

"[That requirement] meant greater insulation in the attic space, which means thicker insulation in the wall spaces."

In an announcement on Friday, Member of Parliament Yvonne Jones remarked that the federal government, in partnership with the Innu First Nation and Mushuau Innu First Nation, will be investing over $17 million in combined funding for the renovation or construction of nearly 100 homes in Labrador.

 WATCH | There is now more affordable housing in Labrador:

Towns and cities were told to pitch urgent housing projects. Here’s what Labrador did with the money

12 days ago

Duration 1:43

Sixteen new affordable housing units opened on Friday in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The homes are operated as part of N.L. Housing’s portfolio. A portion of the money comes from the Rapid Housing Initiative — a federal program which was created to get urgent projects built. The CBC’s Regan Burden and Zach Russell were there.

Jones added that through the federal program, 33 new single-family homes were built in Sheshatshiu, and 26 existing homes were renovated so far.

"These will house parents who will raise their children without worry about where they will spend their next nights," said Jones. "They will raise their children in a safe and comfortable environment."

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