Habitat for Humanity New Brunswick, provincial government build new home for family
The non-profit organization receives up to $100,000 per unit from the provincial government towards the construction of new homes, a news release from the province said.
'It's critical that we continue to find more pathways to home ownership,' said David Hickey, minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation. 'By working with our partners in Habitat for Humanity, we're able to bolster medium-density housing options for those who need them.'
The three-bedroom bungalow is the 22nd affordable home built by the partnership since 2023.
'It's a pleasure to work with the government of New Brunswick to make home ownership possible for families like this one,' said Perry Kendall, CEO of Habitat for Humanity New Brunswick. 'We know the need is great, and this partnership is an effective way to get people into safe, secure housing.'
For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
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Globe and Mail
2 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Ottawa is quietly working on launching a new entity it hopes will be key to housing affordability
Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has been quiet since the federal election about the housing crisis, the same issue that contributed to the Liberals' fading popularity under their previous leader. Behind the scenes, however, housing stakeholders are fielding a flurry of calls from government officials seeking their advice on the creation of Build Canada Homes, a new federal entity that Mr. Carney has said will get the government back in the business of homebuilding. His ambitions, announced during his campaign, were big: act as a developer to build affordable housing, spur innovation in the housing sector and offer low-cost financing to affordable-housing builders. However, trade turmoil has quickly overshadowed housing affordability in the political arena, creating a void of information on how the federal government plans to get more homes built. Renée LeBlanc Proctor, a spokesperson for Housing Minister Gregor Robertson, said in a statement that the government was on track to launch the initiative this fall and stakeholders would learn more soon. But questions still linger about how the new entity will function, and what its creation will mean for existing programs. Meanwhile, some leaders in the housing policy and advocacy spaces are worried that if the government doesn't move quickly to spur more supply, the economic slowdown caused by U.S. tariffs will set plans further behind. Mr. Carney promised the initiative would be a 'lean, mission-driven organization' focused on building affordable housing by leveraging public lands and partnering with the private sector. He pitched it as a central piece of the government's plan to double the rate of homebuilding in the country. Opinion: Ottawa must resist the temptation to fiddle with CMHC amid housing market slump Raymond Sullivan, executive director of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association, an organization that represents the social and non-profit housing sector, said he's encouraged to see affordable housing at the heart of Build Canada Homes' mission. But given how long it can take to set up a new bureaucracy, Mr. Sullivan said the government should roll out elements of Build Canada Homes as they become ready, rather than wait for the entire organization to be set up. 'We're not going to have a cake that's fully baked and ready to launch in the fall. So let's focus on the pieces that are already available to us,' he said. University of Toronto senior housing researcher Carolyn Whitzman said there are two versions of the initiative that are being discussed in policy circles: one that is limited in scope and focused primarily on partnering with developers to build affordable housing on public land, and one that also has a larger mandate encompassing financing and innovation programs. Figuring out what exactly Build Canada Homes will be responsible for and how it will distinguish itself from organizations such as the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation appear to be some of the details Ottawa is trying to hammer out, according to stakeholders consulted by the government. Mr. Sullivan said Ottawa should ensure social-housing projects in the pipeline are not affected by the organization's creation. 'We don't want to see any kind of interruption. We need to know that the government is there as a partner with us, not sitting back for a year building a new structure, but ready to work on things that are ready,' he said. Real estate is not a financial slam dunk, Canadians are learning the hard way Some housing experts and stakeholders are skeptical that Build Canada Homes will be a sufficient solution to the housing shortage. The government has had mixed success with its housing initiatives in the past — such as the slow progress it's made on converting unused office space into affordable housing recently flagged by the Auditor-General — and a new organization will likely take time to begin delivering results. 'They've talked about partnering with industry to actually build the units, which will be important, because governments around the world have proven that they can't properly get into the actual construction game,' said Kevin Lee, CEO of the Canadian Home Builders' Association. Mr. Lee said building affordable housing on public lands also won't be enough to get the government to its goal of 500,000 housing starts a year. (The seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts was 283,734 units in June.) Meanwhile, the private and social-housing sectors are impatient for clarity on other policy fronts, including the promised GST rebate for first-time homebuyers. Mr. Lee said the delay is affecting demand at a time when the economy is already slowing down the housing market. 'Having something like that that was promised not get turned into official policy has really thrown another wrench into the system,' said Mr. Lee. Proposed GST rebate for first-time homebuyers could offer average relief of $27,000, PBO says Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne introduced legislation in late May to provide the GST rebates. But unlike the government's 'One Canadian Economy' legislation, which was rushed through the House of Commons and Senate during the four-week sitting, the bill on GST rebates must wait for Parliament to return in the fall. The government's prioritization of fast-tracking approvals for major projects and managing trade tensions with the U.S. reflects a shift in the public's priorities, as well. Polling by Abacus Data shows U.S. President Donald Trump is the second-most important issue to Canadians, with housing and the economy nearly tied for third. (The rising cost of living – which includes housing costs – was the No. 1 issue.) Mike Moffatt, founding director of the University of Ottawa's Missing Middle Initiative, said the shift in priorities is understandable, though he warned housing could become of greater importance again. 'The government would be doing itself favours if they do the legwork now, because if it becomes a big concern, or the primary concern for Canadians, again, it might be too late to really address that,' Mr. Moffatt said. The trade war with the United States also has repercussions for the housing market, which won't make the government's job of spurring homebuilding any easier. RBC assistant chief economist Robert Hogue said the housing market is slowing down in part as 'payback for an exceptionally strong period' after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 'However, the trade war kind of put a damper on things and really affected confidence in most of Canada, and that's when we saw, through the winter and spring, a lot of potential home buyers saying, 'might as well sit it out,'' he said. These three housing markets are bucking national trends, and Trump is one reason why 'The challenge is to get more demand for new construction at a time when building costs have gone up and and you've got now more inventory in the existing home market, in many places around Canada.' Mr. Moffatt said as the government works on setting up the organization, it needs to roll out policies that will have a more immediate effect on the housing market. For example, the government could expand its proposed GST rebate so that all homebuyers of a primary residence are eligible, he said. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in the spring his government would match the tax break if it were extended to all homebuyers. Prof. Whitzman said social-housing builders also are seeking information on a number of programs, including the affordable housing fund, which provided capital for the repair of existing affordable and community housing. That fund recently ran out of money, leaving its future in limbo. 'I'm not saying Build Canada Homes is a bad idea,' she said. 'But there's stuff that could be happening tomorrow and there's stuff that should be happening tomorrow.'
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
Digby affordable housing project on hold as federal funding dries up
A plan by a Digby, N.S., non-profit to build affordable housing on the site of a former downtown motel is at a standstill as the group awaits word on federal funding. The Digby & Area Housing Coalition Society purchased the former Siesta Motel in 2022 with an aim to turn the existing building into affordable housing, coalition chair Nancy Robinson said. Subsequently, it was decided that it would be more cost efficient to demolish the motel and build 34 units on the site. The units would serve seniors and other vulnerable people facing Digby's severe housing shortage. Robinson said the units would be genuinely affordable, with tenants spending no more than 30 per cent of their income on rent, including utilities. She said they already have many applicants for the units. After securing $300,000 in funding including provincial grants for design work and municipal approvals, the $11.2-million project was construction-ready this spring and awaiting the release of federal funds. After waiting for the outcome of the federal election, Robinson said the group was told the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's affordable housing fund, their expected funding source, had been depleted. 'That's a lot of money' CMHC said in an email to CBC that it's affordable housing fund "has attracted significant interest and success, resulting in numerous high-quality applications," but did not indicate if and when it will be replenished. Robinson said the devastating news has left the project in limbo. "That's a lot of money and it's very difficult to make that up," she said. "It's nerve-racking, not just because of the number of people that are waiting for housing, desperately waiting for housing, and Digby where there's really basically nothing available and certainly nothing affordable." Robinson said the delay leaves the volunteer organization having to cover significant costs, including the $2,600-monthly mortgage payment on the vacant property. The delay couldn't come at worse time for Digby, she said. The community's housing shortage has reached emergency levels. She said the funding issue appears linked to broader changes in federal housing policy. While Ottawa works to implement its new housing plan, she said existing programs like the affordable housing fund have been allowed to lapse. Robinson said she understands the need for systemic reform, but immediate action is needed to help people in desperate need of appropriate housing. The coalition has launched a local fundraising campaign and is exploring alternative financing options. Chris D'Entremont, the Conservative MP for Acadie-Annapolis, which includes Digby, said it was strange the program was still taking applications even though it said its funds have been depleted. He said billions of dollars have gone into the fund, which has existed since 2018. "We're hoping that as the fall rolls around, of course, there's going to be a budget coming," he told CBC Radio's Information Morning Nova Scotia. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne "has said that there will be a program coming, that there should be funding. So we're hoping it will be topping this off." With demolition delayed from its planned May 2025 start, Robinson said completion could now slip to late 2026. Meanwhile, for the applicants the wait continues with no clear resolution in sight. "They are desperate. It's palpable. It's tragic, really," Robinson said.
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
Whole new neighbourhood proposed for Rothesay, with 1,277 housing units
Ali Kamkar moved to New Brunswick six years ago to have a more relaxing life and focus on raising kids after leading a busy life running manufacturing and property development businesses in the Middle East. He and his wife settled in Rothesay and began to put down roots, with his daughter enrolling at Rothesay Netherwood School. Another daughter was born a year after they arrived. Kamkar soon became restless because of his entrepreneurial nature. "Business is in my blood," he said. "After six months, I needed to go back to work. I start to look around for opportunities. I thought, how can I do something positive for our community? How can I bring something that the community needs?" With a business partner from B.C., he opened a self-storage operation in Millidgeville with 440 units and began looking around for housing development opportunities. In Rothesay, he saw the need for a better mix of housing and has submitted a proposal for a mixed-use development that would add nearly 1,277 units over a 20-year period in a commercial and residential area near the highway. The town now has about 12,000 residents, so the development could provide a significant boost to the population and housing availability over time. Kamkar said the community has mainly single-family homes, which is great for young families but not for seniors or younger people. "Many people born here, raised here, they love to be here, but they are older," he said. "They want to move somewhere smaller. They want to stay close to friends and family, but they don't want to take care of the grass and shovel the snow. They want to be in the community, but there is nothing available in the community. "There are also young people that want to have their own place but not much is available or affordable." 'Times are changing in the region' Mayor Nancy Grant said Kamkar's proposal reflects the changing character of the community. "Rothesay has traditionally been a community of single-family homes, but times are changing in the region," Grant said. "We're trying to increase the population. There's a housing shortage, and there's a demand for various types of other types of housing." The proposed development by Landmark 661 Ltd. would include a mix of commercial businesses, apartment buildings, townhouses and single-family homes. It would happen in five phases, beginning with six, four-storey apartment buildings with 427 residential units and commercial businesses on the ground floors. Grant is impressed that the development is being designed to fit into the existing neighbourhood with the single-family homes on the part of the 22.8-hectare site adjacent to existing single-family homes along Wedgewood Drive. The townhouse units and 16 four-storey apartment buildings, seven of which would have ground-floor commercial spaces, would face the Campbell Drive-Millennium Drive area overlooking a Kent Building Supplies store and the Atlantic Superstore mall area. "The whole thing is beautifully designed," Grant said. "The apartment buildings are organized into four quadrants. Each has four apartment buildings and each is organized around a central courtyard and green space. "It will have a lighted landscaped main street with shops and restaurants … this will provide what planners like to call the complete neighborhood or the complete community. It's mixed-use. It's walkable, family-oriented, with a variety of housing, courtyards, trail system and green space incorporated." 'We need more walkable streets in Rothesay' Kamkar said the community needs more neighbourhoods like this. "We don't just design homes. Our design team wants to make a community — a village-style place where people have everything they want," Kamkar said. "We need more walkable streets in Rothesay like there are in places like uptown Saint John, with a coffee shop, restaurant, bar and hair salon." The large wooded plot of land doesn't need to be rezoned, but council will need to vote on whether to approve a development agreement. The next council meeting is Aug. 11.
