Alberta allots housing dollars to 37 communities

Edmonton is getting $34.3 million and Calgary will get $47.9 million this year to build affordable housing, the Alberta government announced Tuesday.

The funding is part of $254 millionpromised last month in the provincial budget and aimed at creating 2,200 new units of low cost and affordable housing this year.

At that time the government said it would spend an additional $589 million over the next five years to build 11,000 units of affordable housing.

"The funding will help create affordable housing where Albertans need it," said Premier Ed Stelmach in a news release Tuesday. "The province is pleased to be a partner in meeting local priorities to provide safe, affordable homes to Albertans."

Thirty-seven communities across the province will share in $100 million of that funding, to be divided based on population and vacancy rates. There is also another $142-million fund which will be available to developers, non-profit groups and others on a project-by-project basis.

A further $12.4 million of the money is for rent subsidies to low-income Albertans.

Fort McMurray is not part of the funding announced Tuesday. The government has already set aside $45 million for that high-growth region with the target of creating 300 new units as soon as possible.