NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) stood in the House of Assembly today questioning government on pursuing alternative, public solutions for supportive housing, the number of homes they’ve announced and built since being elected.
“When I was first elected in 2019, I approached several Ministers of Housing about renovating the Grace Hospital nurse’s residence for affordable, supportive, and transitional housing only to learn the building was derelict for too long and had to be demolished,” Dinn said in the House of Assembly.
“An opportunity now exists to renovate and transform the former Waterford Hospital site into a publicly owned and operated affordable, supportive, and transitional housing. I ask the Premier: Will he commit to doing so?”
Dinn continued asking the Premier, “will he at least commit to carrying out a study and to consulting with not-for-profit housing organisations to determine the feasibility of using the Waterford Hospital site for affordable, supportive, and transitional housing?”
“The residents of Horizons wouldn’t be in their current situation and facing eviction if the Hotel had been purchased rather than leased, if there was sufficient affordable housing available to go,” Dinn mentioned. “So let me re-ask one of my questions that was not answered yesterday. Premier, how many of the 10,000 homes you promised to build have actually been constructed?”
“As I understand it, government is seeking a new site for the extended stay for health care patients and Horizons was the preferred choice. I wrote the Minister of Health about this and suggested the site be used for both current residents and people travelling to the city for medical care. At least residents would not have to be relocated, and government would have more time to find residents a home,” said Dinn. “I ask the Premier, will his government pursue this option?”