Yesterday, Alberta Housing and Urban Affairs announced a $7.28 million grant to Edmonton's Hope Mission to support the development of 52 units to provide housing for chronically homeless people.

This project will help people in Edmonton move off the street, out of shelters, and into long-term homes. Rents will be set based on the residents' means and will take other living expenses into account. Residents will also receive support to find employment, deal with addictions, or manage mental illness.

The new facility, to be located at 106 Avenue and 107 Street, will be develop using modular construction techniques so residents will be able to move in sooner than in a traditional build. The Hope Mission anticipates that the units will be complete and ready for occupants by late spring.

The announcement is the first of several in Edmonton of funds to develop permanent housing units. In 2009/2010, the province is providing $193 million in capital funding to develop affordable housing units for low-income Albertans. This includes $100 million to develop nearly 980 housing units specifically for the homeless. Funding is made available through a Request for Proposals process open to municipalities, the private sector, and non-profit organizations.

You can read the news release online, as well as the Edmonton Journal's article "Apartments will get homeless off streets," the Edmonton Sun's article "New building will have 52 suites for city's homeless," or CBC Edmonton's story "Edmonton homeless shelter gets $7M for new units." Comments