"This made in Newfoundland and Labrador program was designed by NLHC to specifically address the needs of low-income families in this province," Mr. Reid said. "The program is most significant in that it enables clients to undertake more substantive repairs to their homes, will more than double the level of service to low-income earners and will create 650 direct seasonal jobs in the province's construction industry over the next two years."  

The new home repair program enables NLHC to upgrade the quality of housing for 2,000 low-income families and will provide emergency repair assistance to an additional 1,400 households. Program objectives are to assist low-income homeowners in carrying out repairs to correct fire, life safety and other major deficiencies in their homes; provide accessibility modifications for persons with disabilities; enable seniors citizens to maintain independent lifestyles with appropriate modifications to their homes 
and respond to the urgent repair needs of social assistance recipients. 

In part, this new program has been made possible by the Social Housing Agreement signed between the federal and provincial governments last year. It allows the province flexibility in identifying its priority needs and use of funding from the agreement to help finance new programs. The increased flexibility will also enable the corporation to address home repair needs in a more responsive manner.  

Grant funding of a maximum $5,000 per household is available, with additional repayable funding of a maximum $10,000 available to cover repair costs in excess of the grant, and will be available in both urban and rural areas with increases in these benefits for coastal Labrador to reflect the increased cost of construction. The existing RRAP waiting list will be used, with priority given to critical needs groups such as the disabled community, social assistance recipients and seniors requiring modifications to ensure continued occupancy of their homes. 

Eligible repairs include items such as repair or replacement of deteriorated foundations, walls, plumbing, doors and windows, electrical systems, heating systems and roofs as well as modifications to accommodate persons with disabilities.  

Program delivery will begin immediately and be fully underway by July. 

For further information, contact: 
Jenny Bowring, Corporate Communications 
Telephone:  (709) 724-3055  
E-mail:  releases@nlhc.nf.ca