Province Moves Forward on Major Investment in Housing for Seniors and Persons With Disabilities
March 19.2009

$119 million will build and update more than 3,000 supportive living and lodge units
Edmonton...Seniors and Albertans with disabilities will benefit from more than $119 million in provincial capital funding to help build and modernize more than 3,000 affordable supportive living spaces and lodge units across the province.

"This funding will enable more low- and moderate-income Alberta seniors and those with disabilities to remain in their communities longer," said Mary Anne Jablonski, Minister of Seniors and Community Supports.  "This supports the Continuing Care Strategy, which will help Albertans, who can no longer live independently due to rising personal care needs, to maintain their independence and their vitally important connections with family and friends."

Following a call for proposals, 60 organizations will share $119 million under the Affordable Supportive Living Initiative (ASLI) and Lodge Modernization and Improvement (LMI) program. In total, the funding will be used to build and modernize 1,153 supportive living spaces and update 1,992 lodges.  Partnering organizations include municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, housing management bodies and private sector companies.

"This funding will help more Albertans to age in the right place by improving the quality, supply and client choice in the continuing care system," said Jablonski.  "In addition, we expect these projects to generate close to $485 million in construction-related spending in 35 Alberta communities, which is welcome news in today's economic climate."

In addition to this year's funding, the province has invested $246 million in capital funding since 1999 to support the development or modernization of about 4,800 supportive living housing units.

For more information, visit Alberta Seniors and Community Supports.