December 20, 2022
A new supportive housing facility in south Edmonton is providing safe, stable housing for Edmontonians who would otherwise be at risk of homelessness.
The Mustard Seed Prairie Manor has gradually welcomed residents since late summer and is now 70 per cent full. The site is one of eight projects funded by the City of Edmonton and the Government of Canada as part of the first two rounds of the federal Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI), a national housing program aimed at new housing for vulnerable Canadians.
“Prairie Manor is not just welcoming Edmontonians who might struggle to keep finding stable housing this winter, it’s giving them a permanent place to call home,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. “This project builds on The Mustard Seed’s long history of working to address houselessness, reduce poverty and help Edmontonians meet their basic needs.”
Through the RHI, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) provided $9.2 million, and the City provided $1.7 million, to renovate a former hotel in Strathcona Junction into 85 self-contained supportive housing units. The RHI is a $2.5-billion program under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) to help address the urgent housing needs of vulnerable Canadians through the rapid construction of over 10,000 units of affordable housing across the country.
“Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home,” said Ahmed
Hussen, federal Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion. “Through the Rapid
Housing Initiative, our government is quickly delivering affordable housing to Canadians
most in need. Edmontonians who would otherwise be at risk now have homes at
Mustard Seed Prairie Manor. This is one of the many ways the National Housing
Strategy continues to ensure no one is left behind.”
“This site, made possible through the Rapid Housing Initiative, will bring much needed relief to many of the city's most vulnerable residents,” said Randy Boissonnault, federal Minister of Tourism, Associate Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre. “These 85 units are more than just safe and affordable places to live, they are key to a better life for the residents who will call them home.”
Supportive housing residents sign a lease, pay rent based on 30 per cent of their income and live in an apartment they can furnish and decorate. They also receive supports tailored to their needs. Staff are on-site 24 hours a day and residents receive a range of services through referrals and visits.
Prairie Manor has floors dedicated to individuals with low mobility, females, and sober living. Of the total suites, 49 units are reserved for Indigenous peoples, which reflects the 57 per cent of people
currently experiencing homelessness who identify as Indigenous.
“The Mustard Seed is so grateful for the opportunity to create a space where those who have experienced homelessness can find comfort and peace,” said Katie Kitschke, director of housing, The Mustard Seed Edmonton. “We know that there is still so much work to be done, but we are proud to be a part of it."