Creating more housing and care spaces for seniors

The governments will provide a $37-million capital investment to build 173 new seniors lodge and continuing care spaces. These projects will create about 267 jobs.

The lodge partnership projects are a collaboration between Alberta Seniors and Housing and Alberta Health – combining seniors lodge and continuing care units in the same facility for a flexible range of care.

“Seniors built our province and they should be able to age in their own communities. We are proud to invest in these important projects that will help more seniors stay together and remain in the communities they love as their care needs change.”

“Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. This investment for the construction of safe and affordable housing in Oyen, Spirit River and Manning is going to make a positive impact – we’re giving seniors the ability to age in place in their own communities and maintain important communion with close family and friends which is vital to improved long-term health and happiness.”

“Seniors and people with disabilities need and deserve homes that support their individual needs and recognize the value of living near family and friends. These projects are part of a plan to continue to increase the number of continuing care spaces quickly and cost-effectively.”

“I would like to thank Minister Pon and the Government of Alberta for reuniting my parents this past fall. Due to the placement ranking system and availability at the seniors lodge, my father was placed in acute care while my mother remained in the lodge, as they required different levels of care. You often hear of ‘divorce by nursing home’ and this was the case with my parents. Minister Pon quickly stepped up and demonstrated that she takes pride in taking care of seniors and was able to place my father in the same seniors lodge with my mother. This move allowed my parents to celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary together.”

All projects are currently in the planning phase. Regional housing management bodies Acadia Foundation, Grande Spirit Foundation and North Peace Housing Foundation will operate the facilities.

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada, through CMHC, and the Alberta government are investing in the rural lodge partnership through the Canada-Alberta bilateral agreement under the National Housing Strategy (NHS).
• The Government of Canada is currently rolling out its NHS, an ambitious 10-year, $55-billion plan, that will create 125,000 new housing units and lift 530,000 families out of housing need, as well as repair and renew more than 300,000 housing units and reduce chronic homelessness by 50 per cent.
• The NHS is built on strong partnerships between federal, provincial and territorial governments, and on continuous engagement with others, including municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, and the social and private sectors to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians.

Associated links

The Alberta Ministry of Seniors and Housing fosters the development of affordable housing and supports access to housing options for Albertans most in need. The ministry works with seniors, their families and caregivers, Albertans who require housing supports and communities and other government partners. A more detailed description of the ministry and its programs and initiatives can be found at alberta.ca/ministry-seniors-housing.aspx.

As Canada’s authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC’s aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home they can afford, and that meets their needs. For more information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.    

To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit placetocallhome.ca.

Editor's Note: the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation also issued this news release on Feb. 6, 2020.