Bethany welcomes provincial grant for affordable seniors’ housing

Posted on Thursday, September 08, 2011

Greer Black, President and CEO of Bethany Care Society, welcomes the announcement of $6 million of grants through the provincial Housing Capital Initiatives programs to support the second phase of an affordable seniors’ housing project in Calgary. The announcement was made on September 8 by the Hon. Jonathan Denis, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs.
 
The grant will support the development of 43 suites within the four-storey Mikkelsen House project, currently under construction. The full project will provide 139 affordable seniors’ apartments, 14 of which are designated for seniors who are at risk of being homeless. The Mikkelsen House project is located within Bethany’s Riverview Village community, a 12-acre site with five existing apartment buildings that are home to more than 270 seniors and other individuals living on limited incomes.
 
“Through our mission of Creating Caring Communities, we are committed to working in partnership with government to address issues of housing affordability and homelessness in Alberta. The Mikkelsen House project makes a valuable contribution to meeting this need,” said Greer Black, President and CEO, Bethany Care Society.
 
“Our vision is to create an integrated aging-in-place community on the expansive Riverview Village site,” he continues. “This begins with independent living in the existing buildings and Mikkelsen House, with future plans for potential development of supportive living and long term care programs. The location in the southeast community of Dover is ideal, as it is close to the heart of the city, with ready access to transportation, shopping and a range of amenities.”
 
A faith-based organization founded in 1945, Bethany Care Society is one of Western Canada’s largest voluntary, not-for-profit providers of health, housing and community services for seniors and persons with disabilities. The operations of Bethany Care Society cover the full range of continuing care, including long term care, supportive living and adult day support programs. Bethany also provides a range of community housing options with affordable rental and life lease suites for seniors, persons with disabilities and others. Mikkelsen House is named in recognition of Chris Mikkelsen, a Founder of Bethany Care Society who served on the Board for over 30 years.
 
Bethany provides care and housing for more than 1,500 residents, clients and tenants in Airdrie, Calgary, Cochrane, Red Deer, Sylvan Lake and High River. As well, Bethany promotes aging in place for over 4,400 Albertans through Bethany Lifeline, operated in partnership with Philips Lifeline.
 
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Media Inquiries:  Colleen Blakely, Manager, Communications and Marketing
403.210.4624 or blakelyc@bethanycare.com