$90M boost for affordable housing in Alberta

Low-cost housing projects across Alberta were given a $90-million funding boost on Thursday.

Federal and provincial government officials jointly announced the new money in Calgary.

Thefunding will help provide housing to 1,600 families, seniors and people with disabilities.

The housing units are to be built in Calgary, Edmonton, Beaumont, Red Deer, Spruce Grove, Whitecourt and Wetaskiwin.

The project includes building new housing, renovating rental units and developing secondary units in private homes.

New facility for seniors

Calgary's portion of the moneyhas been earmarked for Lions Village, a new seniors housing complex being built at the corner of Crowchild Trail and Kensington Road N.W.

The four-story facility will have 90 affordable units including one and two-bedroom suites for low to medium income seniors who are functionally independent.

There will also be nine studio units for homeless seniors in need of housing.

Lions Village will be jointly operated by the Calgary Lions Club and Bethany Care Society.

The projects announced on Thursday are receiving funding made available through Canada's Economic Action Plan and the Affordable Housing Initiative.

The Action Plan provides $475 million, over two years, to build new rental housing for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities.