The provincial government announced affordable housing money this week, but the dollars will build no new homes in St. Albert.
Both the Sturgeon Foundation's proposal for a North Ridge Lodge addition and the St. Albert housing society's proposal for a 48-unit complex called Big Lake Pointe failed to attract provincial dollars.
Thursday's announcement of $74 million in funding for 764 new units concentrated mostly in Calgary fulfils a promise Premier Ed Stelmach made back in 2007. At that time he promised to construct 11,000 new affordable housing spots by 2012, a target the government has now reached.
Donna McColl, a spokesperson for the province said the announcement does not mean the government will have no more dollars to offer in the future.
"This was the five-year commitment and we have completed that early, but housing remains important to Alberta and we anticipate more grants will roll out."
McColl did not have any details on the proposed grants, which will likely wait for a new premier, but she said the government has factored them into estimates for future government spending.
Disappointing news
Sturgeon foundation chair Paul Krauskopf said missing out on the funding again is a bit of a disappointment.
He said without a government grant the foundation's proposed 42-unit project won't be able to go very far.
"There is not much we can do on our own unless we find a partner," he said. "We rely on the government through grants and things like that, so basically until another program comes up I guess it is just going to sit."
The city has received a little more than $13 million from the affordable housing program. In addition to a 48-unit project at Northridge Lodge, the city received funding that helped with the Habitat for Humanity projects in Akinsdale and Northridge, the city's basement suite renovation program, transitional housing projects and rent subsidies they have offered.
The city also used $2.3 million to purchase a parcel of land for the housing society's proposed project.
On Friday, St. Albert Mayor Nolan Crouse said the city will now have to look at what to do with that land purchase.
He said the city's support for the housing society will run to the end of February and then council will have to consider the next step.
"If they get the money there is a project and we can continue to support that and if they don't get the money then realistically our support of the housing society is in question."
McColl said in addition to more funding in future years the government does still have some funding for this year, which it hopes to roll out in the weeks ahead.
She said that funding is managed jointly with the federal government so it may take some time before it is parcelled out.
