The ribbon on a new affordable housing building was officially cut today by Megan Dombowsky, one of 14 tenants at Riverheart Suites. Holding the ribbon, from left, Mayor Greg Dionne, Linda Boyer (PA Housing), MLA Alana Ross and tenant Jason Michel. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Housing and disabilities

New building houses 14 people with various levels of disabilities

May 6, 2022 | 6:00 PM

Finding a house to call home in Prince Albert can be challenging. Finding an affordable house even more so and finding both when you have a disability might be close to impossible.

For 14 city residents, however, the search is over thanks to the efforts of the Prince Albert Housing Society.

Jason Michel, who has lived at Riverheart Suites for one year now, said the building saved his life and when he moved in, all he owned was a bag.

“This place save my life and I thank you for everything. Thank you for the building and thank you very much everybody for being here,” said Michel, speaking during a ribbon cutting event on Friday.

Michel’s mother, who also requires dialysis, now lives several doors down from him in the building constructed on River Street on the west side of town.

Final numbers

Local RM results finalized

15h ago

Commitment

Hildebrand commits to Bemidji State in NCAA DI, first NCAA commitment in Raiders history

17h ago

Inflation

Rent inflation to slow in the next few years, Desjardins predicts

18h ago

Money from the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, a low interest federal government loan and some funding from the City of Prince Albert helped with the $3.3 million construction cost.

The government support makes it possible for the buildings to charge affordable rents to the tenants who live there and to provide an on-site support worker.

“I want to say thank you. I feel safe here. It’s a beautiful place. I’m happy here,” Michel said.

The message was echoed by Megan Dombowsky, who says she found independence at Riverheart while physically confined to a wheelchair.

“It’s enabled me greater independence that I didn’t have otherwise. There’s the accessibility in the building and the apartment. They are very spacious,” she said. “It’s just really nice to have a place to call my own and not have to worry about when am I going to find an affordable, accessible building to live in.”

In the building are eight one-bedroom units of which two are wheelchair accessible and six two-bedroom units with one of them accessible.

For Prince Albert Housing, the building process has been long and arduous, starting in 2017 with applications to the federal government, provincial government and City of Prince Albert.

The need for affordable housing in the city is also high for other groups, such as seniors, said manager Linda Boyer.

“I would love to repeat this and build another one on another piece of land like this. It’s hard to find though,” said Boyer.

The Government of Canada contributed $2.1 million through the Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement with the Government of Saskatchewan and the National Housing Strategy’s Housing Co-Investment Fund.

—

susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow