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March 21, 1997
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)

The following is being distributed at the request of the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation:

Province to continue cost-sharing of housing repair programs with federal government

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) will deliver housing repair and assistance programs in the province once again this year. The announcement was made by Art Reid, minister responsible for housing, resulting from the provincial budget.

"This year's funding will allow NLHC to deliver roughly 400 housing repair and assistance loans for an overall value of $3 million," Mr. Reid said. "These programs have been very effective in assisting people to upgrade their homes to adequate levels of health and safety and have contributed significantly to economic activity in the province. The province will continue to share the cost of delivering these very worthwhile programs with the federal government again this year, creating roughly 175 jobs in the home building sector," he said.

Last month, the federal government announced its decision to extend the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP), Emergency Repair Program (ERP) and Home Adaptations for Seniors' Independence (HASI) program for 1997. As part of its budgetary considerations, the provincial government has accepted the invitation to cost-share these programs for 1997.

The Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) is designed to help low-income families, including native households and persons with disabilities, to undertake repairs required to meet minimum standards of health and safety. The program provides loans to eligible homeowners. Depending on total household income and the cost of repairs, a portion of the loan may not have to be repaid.

The Emergency Repair Program (ERP) provides assistance to homeowners in rural and remote areas to undertake emergency repairs required for continued safe occupancy of their homes. Assistance depends on the cost of repairs and does not have to be repaid.

Home Adaptations for Seniors' Independence (HASI) provides one-time grants of up to $2,500 to help low-income seniors with difficulties of daily living in the home that can be addressed by certain adaptations.

Contact: Karen Humphreys Blake, NLHC, (709) 724-3054.