Canadian Funding Corporation reports: KELOWNA, May 23, 2009 — Representatives from the Government of Canada and the Central Okanagan Emergency Shelter Society joined today to celebrate the official opening of the Women’s Interim Supportive Home — or W.I.S.H. This four bedroom housing project will provide supportive housing for women who have experienced abuse and violence in relationships.

Ron Cannan, Member of Parliament for Kelowna – Lake Country, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and Minister Responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, along with the Central Okanagan Emergency Shelter Society’s Alice Gro, President of the Board of Directors and Laura Banman, Manager of Programs and Human Resources, attended the ceremony.

“The Government of Canada is committed to making affordable housing available in British Columbia and across Canada for those who need it most,” said MP Cannan. “The creation of this project here in Kelowna will provide women and their children access to safe, supportive housing, and help them start a new page in their lives.”

Through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Shelter Enhancement Program, the Government of Canada provided $460,000 to W.I.S.H. for the purchase of the second-stage housing facility. This program assists in repairing, rehabilitating and improving existing shelters for women and their children, youth or men who are victims of family violence, and provides financial assistance for the acquisition or construction of new shelters and second-stage housing where needed.

The Central Okanagan Emergency Shelter Society was able to provide an additional $28,000 needed to purchase the building through the generous contributions of the community. Most of the labour was provided voluntarily and as in-kind contributions by local trades-people. The W.I.S.H. facility includes a variety of support services such as counselling, job search support and life skills training, to assist women in their transition to a healthier, stable life and longer term housing.

“The establishment of the W.I.S.H. residence has been the fulfillment of a longstanding vision for us,” said Laura Banman, Manager of Programs and Human Resources, Central Okanagan Emergency Shelter Society. “We are grateful to CMHC and the generous community support that has made it a reality.”

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has been Canada’s national housing agency for more than 60 years. CMHC is committed to helping Canadians access a wide choice of quality, affordable homes, while making vibrant, healthy communities and cities a reality across the country.

Last fall, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over the next five years to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless. Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on this with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing and lending of up to another $2 billion to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.