Altona’s Gardens on Tenth More Affordable For Seniors

An announcement made Friday by the Manitoba government will make it easier for seniors deciding to move into Altona’s new 55 plus assisted living facility.

Housing and Community Development Minister Peter Bjornson was in Altona to reveal that 44 of the 66 units will receive rent supplement assistance. Only 14 units had been approved prior to Friday’s announcement.

“High-quality, affordable housing is vitally important so Manitobans can continue to live in their own communities during their retirement years,” said Bjornson. ” I would like to thank the board of Gardens on Tenth for their hard work in meeting the needs of local seniors and their families.”

Gardens on Tenth Board Chair David Wiebe welcomed the news.

“This is a big announcement for the Gardens on Tenth, but it is even bigger for 44 of our future residents,” he said. “It certainly will make 30 more suits much more affordable.”

Wiebe hopes the move will help them reach their fundraising goal of $3 million. They are currently near the $2.4 million mark.

“What this certainly should do for those people who said they weren’t supporting it because it was only for the well-to-do, this should put that to rest,” he said. “It’s a bigger project donation-wide than anything else I think we’ve had in our community,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of support, and we’re just looking for a little more support now to get us to that $3 million goal.”

Wiebe said construction has been a challenge this winter, but predicts the basement and cement work will be done before the spring thaw.

Occupancy is scheduled for the spring of 2015.

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