More government funding has been committed to help build additional affordable housing units in Moncton.
The provincial and federal governments announced nearly $6 million in funding on Friday to build 46 new units.
Nearly $3.9 million of that is coming through the third round of the federal government’s Rapid Housing Initiative.
Ginette Petitpas Taylor, the MP for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, said the funding will support two organizations.
“The Rising Tide Community Initiative will be receiving an amount of money for the creation of 40 apartments in the Moncton area,” said Petitpas Taylor.
“Secondly, Blossom House, which is a transitional housing unit through Crossroads for Women, will be able to create six more units.”
The original Blossom House was destroyed in a fire more than two years ago in September 2021. The project will support women and children fleeing domestic violence.
Crossroads for Women will get $780,000 from the federal government, a $420,000 loan from the province, and $200,000 in capital funding from the city.
Renderings of the new apartment buildings being constructed by Rising Tide Community Initiatives Inc. Image: Tara Clow
Rising Tide will receive a total of $4.7 million for its project, which includes $3.1 million from the federal government and a $1.6 million loan from the province. It is also receiving ongoing operational funding from the city.
The organization will build five, two-storey apartment buildings containing eight units each for homeless people in Moncton.
Petitpas Taylor said we need a multi-pronged approach in dealing with homelessness, adding this is a step in the right direction.
“More than providing a roof over their head with this funding, there’s going to be social work services, services that are provided by nurses, and also peer support programs,” she said.
“We want to make sure that we’re setting up our population for success, not just a roof over their head, but we want them to thrive.”
Petitpas Taylor said the federal funding is separate from the $15 million announced through the Housing Accelerator Fund in November.
That funding will help build nearly 500 additional housing units over the next three years.
With files from Tara Clow.
