More funding to support emergency, transitional and affordable housing

The provincial government is providing more funding to the Salvation Army to help keep Islanders safe and out of the cold this winter.  

A total of $3,700,000 over three years will support the Bedford MacDonald House men’s shelter, Smith Lodge and the Community Outreach Center. Smith Lodge will open as a 20-bed transitional housing complex later this year and the Community Outreach Centre will continue to operate daily (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) offering community supports to people experiencing homelessness. 

“We have to do everything we can to make sure all Islanders have access to safe and affordable housing. This new funding for transitional housing, along with new affordable units, and financial help through mobile rental vouchers, will help meet the diverse housing needs of Islanders and keep people safe.”

- Social Development and Housing Minister, Ernie Hudson

“The Salvation Army is honoured to be able to work with the Department of Social Development and Housing to provide these services to the community,” says Lt. Emily Newbury, Corps Officer and Executive Director of The Salvation Army in Charlottetown. “We see first-hand the need on the Island and, by working together, we can help those who need us now more than ever before.”

Islanders in need of temporary/emergency shelter should call 1-833-220-4722 or 211 to access the 24/7 toll free help line.  The help line also connects people to other services such as social assistance or social housing programs.

Media Contact: 
Rebecca Gass
Senior Communications Officer 
Social Development and Housing
rjgass@gov.pe.ca
(902) 620-3409

Backgrounder:

• The Province continues to work to add 250 affordable housing units across the Island including rural areas such as Alberton, Rustico and Souris. Rent for these units will be set to 25 per cent of household income.
• Of these units, 182 are expected to open by March 2021 and another 48 units by December 2021.
• Out of the 100 units, government has issued tenders for the design of 52 units of those units so far. 
• The provincial housing registry currently has 750 people, including families, seniors and individuals, down from 1,036 earlier this summer. The province is on track to aggressively reduce the housing registry by building new units and allocating 350 new mobile rental vouchers by March 2021. 
• Government has proposed $36.2 million for housing over five years.