Sheehan and the Legion
EDITOR’S NOTE: Sault Business Matters has received the following media release from Sault MP Terry Sheehan relative to Remembrance Days and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 24.
As Remembrance Day approaches, we are honouring the generations of brave soldiers who fought to protect the peace and freedom Canadians enjoy today. Our veterans have made great sacrifices for our country and they deserve safe and affordable places to call home.
Today, local MP Terry Sheehan welcomed the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, to Sault Ste. Marie for a the grand opening of the new home of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 at 96 Great Northern Road, which also features 107 newly constructed affordable housing units.
This new nine-storey apartment building, with 30 per cent of homes under market rents and spaced reserved for veterans, was made possible by $32.1 million in federal funding through the $14 billion Affordable Housing Fund. The new Royal Canadian Legion Branch apartment building is just one of over 261 projects in Ontario and 790 projects across Canada announced so far under the Affordable Housing Fund, which will build 60,000 new homes by 2029.
The new Legion Branch provides a space for all local veterans to enjoy, including a restaurant and bar, meeting rooms, and community hall. The building is also the new home for Sault Ste. Marie’s Veterans Affairs offices and the Military Family and Health Support Group, ensuring veterans and their families have convenient access to support for physical and mental health needs, including depression, anxiety, and trauma.
This new Royal Canadian Legion is a testament to our government’s commitment of taking care of the veterans who have served our country. We are ensuring veterans have access to affordable housing and high-quality support services.
QUOTES
“I was proud to work with Legion Branch 25 and the local developer SalDan to get the new Legion Housing project started and completed. The Legion is an integral partner in helping the Soo community, and I congratulate them on the grand opening of their new home. The plan to use their property to improve housing in our city is innovative, and I am delighted that our government has supported them to make their vision a reality.”
– Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and Seniors
“Sault Ste. Marie’s new Royal Canadian Legion is now home to over 100 housing units, and has become a new community hub providing veterans with the support they deserve. With 30 per cent of homes below market rents, we’re taking care of our veterans and ensuring they can retire with the dignity and comfort of a safe and affordable place to call home.”
– The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
QUICK FACTS
- In Budget 2024 and Canada’s Housing Plan, the federal government announced the most ambitious housing plan—a plan which will build nearly 4 million homes by 2031. This plan takes a whole-of-government approach to addressing the housing crisis by building more homes, making it easier to rent or own a home, and helping Canadians who cannot afford a home.
- The $14 billion Affordable Housing Fund provides low-interest or forgivable loans or contributions to organizations looking to build new affordable housing or renovate and repair the existing supply of affordable and community housing.
- As of June 2024, over $9.40 billion from the Affordable Housing has been committed to build over 37,000 homes and repair over 165,000 homes.
- To further support veterans who have served our country, in April 2023, the federal government launched the Veteran Homelessness Program, which provides funding to projects under two streams:
- $72.9 million Services and Supports Stream to deliver rent supplements and well-being services, such as counselling and treatment for substance use.
- $6.2 million Capacity Building Stream to help organizations increase their capacity to deliver tailored programs by supporting research and improved data collection.