Ottawa announces $7M to fund affordable seniors’ homes in Lethbridge

The federal government is providing more than $7 million towards the construction and repairs of affordable homes for seniors in Lethbridge.

The federal government’s Build Canada Homes program is designed to increase the pace of affordable homebuilding across the country.

In Lethbridge, there is $2.2 million earmarked for building 50 units for independent seniors over the age of 55.

The homes will be located at The Edwards, a former retirement community that was converted into senior living units to accommodate a larger population.

The facility, located across the street from Chinook Regional Hospital, also provides commercial spaces on the ground floor for community-serving businesses.

“This is an adaptive reuse of an existing structure that came to fruition in a matter of months,” said Ken Harvie, president and managing partner at CONCEPT. Investment Partners Ltd.

The property management company started construction in January 2024 and welcomed its first resident in September of that year, Harvie said.

Harvie says all 50 units will be below market rents, with 37 units meeting the definition of affordable housing.

The government will also provide $4.8 million to the Green Acres Foundation to finish repairs and renovations to 480 of its units.

Those include modernizing the elevators, improving the building envelope, installing energy efficient lighting, replacing the roof with higher density shingles, as well as installing high energy efficient HVAC systems and high efficiency boilers.

“Safe, affordable housing plays a vital role in supporting the health and well-being of our seniors,” said Green Acres Foundation CEO Dawna Coslovi.

“We are grateful for this investment and the opportunity to preserve affordable housing that allows seniors to remain connected to their neighbours, families, and local supports for years to come.”

The new funding fills a large need in the city, Lethbridge councillor and acting mayor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel said.

She told reporters the city’s 2024 housing needs assessment found nearly one in 10 households struggled to find housing that is affordable, suitable and adequate for their needs.

“This does fill a need in the city for seniors’ housing, but all know the need and we have a lot more work to do,” she said.