Governments of Canada, Manitoba and City of Winnipeg Celebrate National Housing Day

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, November 21, 2007 — Government partners of the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative (WHHI) will commemorate National Housing Day this Thursday, November 22, 2007 by applauding the progress being made to address housing and homeless issues.

Since the WHHI was established in 2000, the Governments of Canada, Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg have committed more than $99 million and created over 4,000 housing units in Winnipeg.

The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Canada and Minister Responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Honourable Gord Mackintosh, Minister of Family Services and Housing, and His Worship Sam Katz, Mayor of Winnipeg, congratulate Winnipeg’s housing community and service providers for their ongoing efforts to create affordable housing and reduce homelessness in the city.

“National Housing Day is an opportunity to recognize the progress being made to address housing and homelessness issues in Canada, and right here in Winnipeg,” said Minister Solberg. “The federal government is proud to work with our partners, through the WHHI, towards the redevelopment of our inner city neighbourhoods and the creation of safe, affordable, and quality housing for those residents of Winnipeg who need it most.”

“National Housing Day is a time to both recognize the work that has been done, and build on that foundation,” said Minister Mackintosh. “Housing comes first as we address the important priority of affordable, safe housing for all Manitobans.”

“Strong neighbourhoods are built one project and one home at a time,” said Mayor Katz. “The Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative is making a real difference in Winnipeg and we look forward to continuing our work with our partners.”

The WHHI is hosting a breakfast on Thursday, November 22, 2007 for service providers and the housing community. The event’s keynote speaker, Mr. Sean McEwan, is a Vancouver architect and the lead designer of the Mole Hill housing project in Vancouver. He is also a recipient of the 2006 CMHC Housing Award. For more information on Mole Hill, please visit www.mole-hill.ca.

National Housing Day recognizes the efforts of housing providers, home builders, lenders, property managers, real estate agents and governments, in providing quality affordable housing to Manitobans. It celebrates successful housing projects and their benefit to residents and the community. At the same time, it recognizes the ongoing need for affordable housing for the homeless, those at risk of becoming homeless and those living in inadequate housing.

The WHHI is a partnership established by the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg to address homelessness, declining housing stock and the revitalization of Winnipeg’s older neighborhoods.

The WHHI is a single-window office for community organizations to access information on government-funded housing and homelessness programs. Visit www.whhi.ca for more information.

For more information, please call:

Jacquie Sippola
Service Canada/WHHI
Ph: 204-983-2295