Hey Conservatives! This is Tony! Loosen those pursestrings!

NEWS RELEASE

TONY MARTIN, MP

**************************** “Spend the housing money,” Martin tells Conservatives

Two projects for seniors would ease housing crisis

SAULT STE. MARIE - With only a fraction of $3.4 billion in federal housing money spent, Sault MP Tony Martin wants two area projects approved to ease a housing crisis for frail and ‘at risk’ seniors.

“The federal money is still trickling out seven weeks before the end of the fiscal year. The government needs to get moving and where necessary shift funds to help those who have no housing options,” Martin said. “We are in a crisis.”

“There is a shortage of affordable housing for the frail and at risk elderly in the riding while the government only spends a small percentage of allotted funds. This is particularly critical in the wake of the Windsor Park Retirement Residence changing its use.”

Martin noted two assisted living projects for seniors are ready to go at the Finnish Resthome and in Richards Landing with the Matthews Memorial Hospital Association (Meadowlink project) but there are no existing programs for them to apply for funding.

In an unusual government announcement made during the 2008 election campaign, $1.9 billion was committed for social housing and homelessness, confirmed again in the February 2009 budget.

Despite this commitment, the government reported that only 0.4 per cent had actually been spent as of late fall.

Three other housing funds are also moving slowly.

The late 2009 report indicated only 4.6 per cent of a $1-billion fund to renovate existing social housing units has been spent, while 1.9 per cent of a $400-million fund for low-income seniors' housing is out the door.

Only 0.1 per cent of a $75-million construction fund to house people with disabilities has been spent.

****************************