Ground has officially broke on Fromm Manor, a new housing project to assist people with special needs. The building, which will consist of 11 bachelor-style suites, is being built in collaboration with the federal and provincial governments.
Les Arnelien with the Yorkton Housing Corporation says that Fromm Manor began due to a housing needs assessment, which indicated that there was a major need for housing for people with special needs and disabilities in the city, Fromm Manor being designed specifically to meet these needs.
There will be some eligibility requirements which need to be met before someone can become a resident of the new building. They must be single and 18 years of age or over, be on Social Assistance or Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID), have a trustee with local support through the SIGN Trustee Program or government trustee program, have assistance with their household through one of the residential support programs such as SIGN or YAIL harbour and must have two or more of the following conditions: A mental health condition and/or cognitive disability, physical disability and cannot secure appropriate market based accommodation or experience difficulty maintaining market-based rental accommodations. Approved applicants will be point rated based on need, with preference given to those living at risk.
The project will cost $1,660,092, with the Government of Canada through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the province of Saskatchewan, through Sask Housing providing a 70 per cent capital assistance in the form of a forgivable loan of $1,162,064.
Fromm Manor is named after Brian Fromm, former mayor and long-time city councillor until his death in 2002. Arnelien says that Fromm was a big reason why he is on city council now, and he says that the city can be proud to be honouring one of their own with the name.
The building, located on 34 Tupper Ave., is scheduled be complete on July 15, 2015.
