Prince Edward Island’s Minister of Social Services and Seniors, Doug Currie, and the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, made the announcement today.

“The Government of Canada is committed to making affordable housing available in Prince Edward Island and across Canada for those who need it most,” said Minister Shea. “The creation of these new units here in Alberton will provide persons living with intellectual disabilities access to quality, affordable housing, while ensuring that they can stay close to their families and friends.”

The $580,000 project is being developed by Community Inclusions and will be located on Church Street. The development is made possible though a $200,000 investment from the Federal Affordable Housing Trust Fund and a $150,000 investment from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS).

“Our Department of Social Services and Seniors understands the pressures and worries of aging parents who care for adult children with intellectual disabilities,” said Minister Currie. “It’s a complex challenge to provide sufficient supported housing in our province, and I am pleased that we are continuing to work with families, communities and non-government organizations such as Community Inclusions to find the best solutions for these individuals,” he said.

The Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) is a unique community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness by providing direct support and funding to more than 60 communities across Canada. The HPS took effect April 1, 2007, with annual funding of $134.8 million for two years. It has been extended at the same funding levels for two additional years from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2011. Funding for housing and homelessness programs has been extended for another five years, until March 31, 2014.

The residence in Alberton will provide transitional housing for eight individuals with intellectual disabilities. There will be a four-bedroom unit on the first floor, with two, two-bedroom dorm-style units on the first and second floors.

The objective of the Canada – Prince Edward Island Affordable Housing Agreement is to create and sustain rental housing for low- or moderate-income Prince Edward Island households through new construction or rehabilitation.

The provincial Department of Social Services and Seniors contributed two lots of land estimated to be valued at $40,000 for the project. The Department also increased its annual grant to Community Inclusions by nine per cent, bringing its total grant for 2009-10 to $691,800. This contribution will assist the organization with operating funding and staffing the new facility.

Community Inclusions is a non-governmental organization that provides supports and services to adults with intellectual disabilities in western PEI.

“Back in August of 2007, this organization released a needs analysis that clearly illustrated the need for more housing for person’s with disabilities in the West Prince region,” said Jackie Charchuk, Board Chair for Community Inclusions. “We see this as a very positive step in the right direction in beginning to meet that need,” she said.

For more information on Community Inclusions and its various services, contact 853-3944 or visit its web site at www.communityinclusions.com