Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services, announced a substantial increase in funding to support housing providers grappling with rising operational costs due to inflation.
Minister Nixon began by acknowledging Savita’s efforts in supporting affordable housing across the province and highlighted the government’s dedication to keeping life affordable as a cornerstone of the 2020-2024 budget. He emphasized that over 90% of the ministry’s annual budget directly supports individuals and organizations aiding vulnerable Albertans.
Earlier this year, Minister Nixon announced a one-time $10 million increase in operating funding to assist housing providers in housing low-income Albertans during periods of high inflation. Building upon this commitment, he announced an additional $21 million increase in operating funding, representing nearly a 40% rise compared to the 2023 budget. This boost brings the total funding to approximately $75 million for the 2024-2025 budget year.
The funding will be distributed to housing providers across the province that operate family and community housing. Housing providers can use it to support their staff, cover utilities, routine maintenance, and address costs associated with unit turnover, application processing, and managing waitlists.
Minister Nixon highlighted the province’s ongoing efforts to increase affordable housing stock by investing in capital grants, supporting housing providers, and offering rental assistance. The government aims to create 13,000 more affordable housing units by 2031, with almost 5,000 units already built since 2019. Moreover, a quarter of a billion dollars in rent supplements from the province is aiding tens of thousands of households.
In conclusion, Minister Nixon reiterated the government’s commitment to implementing Alberta’s stronger foundation strategy, aiming to provide safe, stable, and affordable housing for an additional 82,000 households by 2031. He emphasized that the investments announced are part of this commitment and underscored the importance of partnerships and innovation in addressing the housing challenges faced by Albertans.
During the media inquiry, Nixon addressed questions about federal funding and the government’s strategy to combat rising rent costs. He emphasized the importance of increasing housing supply to maintain affordability and highlighted the government’s focus on both short-term support for housing providers and long-term strategies to address the housing crisis.