City of Calgary signs Modernized Housing Agreement with Government of Alberta

Just two days before the 10thannual Coldest Night of the Year, a nation-wide campaign directed at combatting the effects of homelessness and housing insecurity across Canada, the City of Calgary has signed a new modernized housing agreement with the Government of Alberta.

On February 18, 2021, the City of Calgary released a press release detailing their agreement with the Alberta Government, which lays out a 4-year, $34 million operating and capital funding agreement for the continued facilitation of affordable housing in Calgary. The agreement covers the continued maintenance of 1,048 existing affordable households throughout the city. Extending through 2024, this updated agreement will take the place of the original jointly funded housing agreements between The City and the provincial government.

All homes are managed by Calgary Housing Company (CHC), a wholly owned subsidiary of The City, and the largest landlord in Calgary, currently managing more than 10,000 households with approximately 25,000 tenants. According to the release, 1 in 5 Calgary households currently struggle with housing costs and more than 100,000 Calgary households are forecast to be in housing need by 2025.

Comments from Calgary housing officials and Mayor Naheed Nenshi highlight the importance of affordable housing in ensuring the future success of all Calgarians and the continued prosperity of Alberta. According to Councillor Druh Farrell, the ability to contribute positively to society begins with access to safe, reliable and affordable shelter. “It’s important to remember that affordable housing is about people,” she says, “People in stable housing have greater chances to find and keep jobs, to learn and build skills and be active participants in their communities.”

“Alberta’s government knows affordable housing is critical to create inclusive communities and to build economic prosperity for all Albertans,” continues Seniors and Housing Minister Josephine Pon.

In addition to the extended provision of 1,048 affordable households, the agreement enables the transition of all City-owned social housing to a social-housing mixed rent model, which in turn, will facilitate positive housing outcomes for tenants. This includes a focus on moving residents out of poverty and reducing reliance on government subsidies moving into the future.

This agreement represents another important step in prioritizing affordable housing, which remains a key factor in reducing the impacts of homelessness and housing insecurity in Calgary and across Canada. According to the City of Calgary press release, “It actually costs less in tax-payer dollars to provide citizens experiencing homelessness with affordable housing. They will rely less on other public supports, such as shelters, healthcare and emergency services.”

For more information on Calgary’s recent modernized housing agreement and ongoing affordable housing strategy, visit https://www.calgary.ca/cs/olsh/affordable-housing/affordable-housing.html?redirect=/affordablehousing

For more stories, visit Todayville Calgary.

Related Topics:2021 Affordable housing City of Calgary Housing Insecurity Modernized Housing Agreement

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Prior to Trumps inauguration event and announcement was made that Trump would not be imposing the 25% tariffs…

Which means, Canada seriously dodged a bullet here.

And while the Liberals will most likely frame this as, their success in showing, Bad Orange Man, that they’re tough and ready to burn down what is left of our economy, throwing Alberta under the bus, first…through a nuclear option…

Premier Smith rode this challenge out like the true champion we knew that she would be.

It’s hard to say if this was a legality matter in the grander scheme…or if the 25% tariffs would have truly been as big of an impact on the US…

One thing is clear, however…

Smith was ready to go to the tables with the Trump administration and opt for diplomacy over threats…which should be what we expect from our leaders.

And should these 25% tariffs have gone through…I’m more than sure a Plan B would have been brought out in civil conversations, over screeching rhetoric.

“She’s treasonous”, they screeched.

“She’s supporting her friends in Oil and Gas”, they relent.

“She should put Canada first”, they echo…

And let’s just address these…

Is Walmart beholden to Campbells soup? Fruit of the Loom? Kraft?

Or does Walmart sell products that helps keep their doors open?

Walmart is not beholden to any product…just like Premier Smith isn’t. We have 26% of our GDP – the largest portion – owed to Alberta O&G, something that we have a limited trade partner with, due to the Liberal – Anti-Alberta/Anti-O&G/Anti-Pipeline attitude that wants to spend us further in debt with unreliable and expensive “Renewables”.

What does Alberta get from renewables?

A higher cost for energy, in an affordability crisis, created by the same people who continue to push them…sounds like a terrible deal, for Albertans, and something a true leader would Not Favor.

When Walmart sits down to hash out a deal with Heinz, are they committing treason because they haven’t shown their allegiance to their own, ‘Great Value’ brand Ketchup?

No…other provinces have their own industries and resources, which they are free to continue developing independent of the federal government, as is suitable and supportive of their own economies…Alberta isn’t competing with them, nor Canada as a whole.

Alberta through industry and resource, actually supports Canada through a grand imbalance on “Equalization Payments”…

As do we through paying 50% more into the Canada Pension Plan, than we actually get out of the Canada Pension Plan…to the tune of a $334 Billion Dollars.

And as for this “Team Canada”, horseshit…

The title Premier of Alberta, should hold some clues as to who Premier Smith should be advocating for…as she is the Premier of Alberta and Not the Prime Minister, nor leader in the Liberal Party that has created this fiasco, to begin with.

Rail, as they may…other provinces can’t cast a vote in her support, either way…

None of the other provinces, through Members of Parliament, nor through Premiers, came to support Alberta and our economy through a number of Federal Bills that railed on our provincial resources…

Worse yet…these hypocrites cash cheques from our province, while telling us how to diversify our economy…to which I’d state one thing unequivocally…

If we wanted to be a Have Not Province…like you are…we’ll come and ask you for your advice.

Until then…

I’ll hold my Alberta Flag Higher than my Canadian…

And be proud today, of having the only Premier in the country of Canada, worthy of any praise today!