Moncton Affordable Housing Project Gets $6-Million Provincial Funding
FREDERICTON – The provincial government will invest $6-million over three years in Rising Tide Community Initiatives Inc., a non-profit housing entity aimed at tackling homelessness.
The organization will buy and renovate approximately 20 properties to create 125 affordable housing units for current users of homeless shelters in Moncton, with support services and seven case managers for residents who need them.
“This type of housing unit will achieve the goal of helping people move from the street to a home,” said Dale Hicks, president of Food Depot Alimentaire and a co-founder of Rising Tide, in a release. “The supportive model which will accompany the units will increase the likelihood of residents successfully maintaining housing.”
Rising Tide relies on municipal and provincial funding, as well as community fundraising in the future. It will also apply for funding from the recently announced federal Rapid Housing Initiative to buy property, though that wasn’t in the original business plan.
Moncton’s councilors voted to provide the city’s half – $6 million over three years – to Rising Tide in November. Whether or not the project goes ahead was dependent on the province’s financial support.
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Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold said in the release that having a home is “a fundamental need,” and that Rising Tide is “a great example of a collaborative approach to help address severe human and social issues” in the city.
This is an “unprecedented collaboration” between the provincial government’s Department of Social Development, the City of Moncton, private business, and non-governmental organizations.
The project, first presented to city council more than a year and a half ago, is based on a “housing first” model, taking from the local success of the federal pilot program At Home/Chez Soi, which took place between 2009 and 2013.
The monthly cost of a unit would be around $300 population, including amenities like food, heat, lights, television, and continuous case management. Each property will have a peer-support person living on-site to help residents.
Rising Tide will team up with established non-profit organizations and charities to provide case management.
The $12-million budget for the initiative includes about $2.2-million for operational budget and property maintenance, as well as a reserve for the fourth year of operations.
As a community-driven project, Rising Tide will also invite local non-profit organizations, churches and service groups to commit to a property to provide food delivery, transportation to appointments or social activities.