By Pat St. Germain — Photos courtesy of Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp.
>> Back in 1937, owning a new home was a pipe dream for many working-class Canadians. Mortgages typically required a 40% down pay ment, and even if a family could scrape up that kind of cash during the Depression,
War, and veterans returned home to find the situation had gone from bad to worse. Created in 1946 as the Central Mortgage and Housing Corp., the Canada Mortgage & Hous ing Corp. (CMHC) played a pivotal role in re versing Canada’s housing fortunes. Founded to administer the NHA, improve living condi tions and, initially, to supply housing for vet erans, the CMHC has had far-reaching impact. In 1947, it issued a booklet of free home plans, 67 Homes for Canadians, in which it declared, “Home building signifies many things — a lasting source of happiness, a kindly environ ment in which to raise children, a closer tie with community life, a new stake in the land.” The organization kept faith with that view, raising housing standards and spurring inno vation, addressing social housing needs and urban renewal and, most significantly, mak ing home ownership accessible to a wide swath of Canadians. 15Y 60K 0C 6M 0C 100M
‘Home building signifies many things — a lasting source of happiness, a kindly environment in which to raise children, a closer tie with community life, a new stake in the land.’
there were few new homes to buy. For the poor, living conditions were routinely described as deplorable, with families sharing overcrowded, di lapidated homes that lacked even basic services and comforts.
The National Housing Act (NHA) of 1938 was meant to kickstart new-home construction and address the housing shortage. But even fewer houses were built during the Second World
12Y 31K 100 K
Cont’d on page 32
www.ginoshomes.ca 204-488-2581
Visit Gino’s Exquisite Homes in these great neighbourhoods
Amber Trails 97 Massalia Dr. Bonavista
209 Bonaventure Dr. E. Bridgwater Lakes 34 Del Monica Rd. Bridgwater Lakes 39 Del Monica Rd. Ridgewood West 10 Camira Way Sage Creek 54 East Plains Dr. Scotswood Meadows
381 Glenbush St. South Pointe 32 Stan Bailie Dr. ShowhomeS are open: mon-ThurS 3pm-8pm / SaT & Sun 12 noon-6 pm See you at the Parade! Your Custom Builder — Since 1968
Parade of Homes Spring 2017 31
Powered by FlippingBook