Dalton and Dave pay your rent

NEWS RELEASE

DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

************************* Orazietti announces $350,000 in support for low-income tenants in Sault Ste. Marie

McGuinty government provides capital grant for construction of new low-income housing

QUEEN'S PARK - To build on the success of municipal delivery of housing for low- income households, the McGuinty government is providing a one-time capital grant of $350,000 to the City of Sault Ste. Marie under Delivering Opportunities for Ontario Renters (DOOR) David Orazietti, MPP announced today.

"Our government has put Ontario back in the affordable housing business in a meaningful and significant way," said Orazietti.

"We have established a comprehensive Affordable Housing Strategy that is making a real difference in the lives of Sault Ste. Marie's working families and most vulnerable households."

The grant to Sault Ste. Marie is part of $127 million distributed to municipalities throughout the province under the Delivering Opportunities for Ontario Renters initiative.

"This recent capital grant announcement of $350,000 to the City of Sault Ste. Marie is welcome news. Affordable housing is essential for quality life and is one of the daily struggles of low-income families. I applaud the McGuinty government for creating this program and David Orazietti for securing our share," said David Edgar, chair of the District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board.

Today's announcement is in addition to other provincial support for low-income tenants.

The McGuinty government's Rent Bank Program promotes housing stability by assisting tenants to avoid eviction for non-payment of rent, as short-term arrears is the most common reason tenants lose their homes and end up in shelters.

To date, the program has supported tenants in Sault Ste. Marie with $199,902 since 2004 as part of an $18.8-million Ontario-wide initiative.

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