73 new affordable housing units open in Saskatoon

A home under construction in Saskatoon is pictured May 17, 2022. (Dan Shingoose/CTV Saskatoon)

Dozens of new affordable and accessible homes are now open in Saskatoon as part of a joint effort to tackle the housing shortage.

The development, called Métis Veterans Plaza, includes 37 market rental units, 19 affordable units and 17 accessible one‑bedroom units on Hart Road in the Blairmore Suburban Centre.

The province says 36 of these homes are designated for low-income seniors, families and people with disabilities.

The announcement was made on Friday by federal Secretary of State Buckley Belanger, Saskatchewan Social Services Minister Terry Jenson, Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block and representatives from Camponi Housing Corporation.

“Affordable housing is more than a place to live; it is the foundation of stability, independence and opportunity,” Jenson said.

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The Government of Saskatchewan says the development is supported through several fusing streams which include $10 million from the federal Affordable Housing Innovation Fund, $23.6 million from the Affordable Housing Fund, $1.2 million from Saskatchewan’s Rental Development Program, $500,000 from the Saskatchewan Co‑investment Program and $150,000 and a five‑year tax abatement from the City of Saskatoon.

“Métis Veterans Plaza shows what is possible when affordable housing is Indigenous-led and grounded in community,” Block said. “It honours the service and sacrifice of Métis veterans and responds to the critical need for housing in Saskatoon that includes supports, connection, and dignity.”

The federal government says the project aligns with the National Housing Strategy, a more than $115‑billion plan to increase housing supply and support those most in need.