Wayne Long is the Liberal Member of Parliament for Saint John-Rothesay. (Staff photo)
The MP for Saint John-Rothesay says he’s excited about an application for federal funding that would see the former St. Vincent’s School building turned into affordable housing units.
Wayne Long has been meeting with local groups in efforts to find projects that suit the requirements for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Rapid Housing Initiative.
$1 billion in funding has been made available for affordable housing projects that can be built within the next year.
Long says the St. Vincent’s School project checks all the boxes.
“It’s in a priority neighbourhood, Waterloo Village, a historic building that needs attention,” Long said. “50 to 60 units could revitalize that area.”
Housing Alternatives Inc. received Common Council’s approval to apply for the funding at Monday’s meeting. Now, they’ll need to wait on federal approval to access the money.
Long says around 1,300 New Brunswickers are on a waitlist for affordable housing. He believes the Blaine Higgs government has dragged its feet in finding a solution for the lack of affordable units.
Long’s government has introduced the Canada Housing Benefit, a $300 portable benefit, which he says would apply to everyone on the affordable housing waitlist.
“Seven out of 10 provinces have accepted the benefit, New Brunswick hasn’t yet,” he said. “This could be something that’s absolutely transformational for my constituents. I only need the province to pick it up too.”
Applications for Rapid Housing Initiative funding are open until the end of the year. Long says he has had talks with other groups about projects that could potentially access the funding.
For now, Long says Housing Alternatives Inc. being approved for the funding would be a great start.
“We’ve got so many good things going on in the city, to add an affordable housing project at St. Vincent’s would be an absolute win for the community.”
