Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
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Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

www.hrsdc.gc.ca

Old Post Office
Rocky Mountain House, Alberta

Highlights

Rocky Mountain House Low Income Housing Coalition acquired a surplus post office for $1 and converted it into affordable, barrier-free family rental housing with space for community service organizations.
Client group: Lower-income families and single people with disabilities
Developer: Rocky Mountain House Low Income Housing Coalition
Number of units: 7
Tenure: Rental
Who was involved? Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Province of Alberta, Government of Canada through the Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative, Town of Rocky Mountain House, Berry Architecture and Associates, the community.

When Canada Post built a new post office building in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, a town councillor recognized an opportunity to convert the old post office to affordable housing and community service space. That was the beginning of a partnership between the federal, provincial and municipal governments and community groups, creating affordable housing for lower-income families and single people with physical disabilities. Rocky Mountain House is a town of about 7,000, midway between Calgary and Edmonton, and west of Red Deer. Its steady growth over the past decade and shortage of barrier-free affordable housing have presented difficulties for both lower-income families and single residents with disabilities.

The Affordable Housing Solution

Like most government buildings, the old post office was built to last. This made it an ideal candidate for conversion to housing. Berry Architecture and Associates oversaw the conversion. The old post office now has five barrier-free units for people with disabilities and two homes for families. Rents are about $250 per month for the barrier-free units and about $525 per month for the family housing. The main floor has a women’s emergency shelter and office space for five local community service agencies.

The Town of Rocky Mountain House provided $10,000 to get the project under way. Transforming the building into affordable housing took advantage of an existing resource that lowered construction costs. The total capital cost of renovating the building was approximately $882,800. The Rocky Mountain House Low Income Housing Coalition acquired the Old Post Office building for $1 through the Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative (SFRPHI) under the Government of Canada's Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS). The building was appraised at $195,000.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Province of Alberta provided $350,000 through the Affordable Housing Initiative. Most of the remaining costs were covered through CMHC’s Rental Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP), with $168,000 coming from the conversion component and $96,000 from RRAP funds for people with disabilities, which provides funding for features that enhance rental housing accessibility for people with physical disabilities.

Berry Architecture and Associates reduced its fee by 66% and community donations covered the costs of appliances for the affordable homes as well as washers and dryers for the women’s shelter.

CMHC Contact

Shirlinell E. Hopkins, 403-515-3013, shopkins@cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Additional Information

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Homelessness Partnering Strategy, Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative
www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/homelessness/surplus_federal/index.shtml

This document was produced by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, highlighting the successful partnership between Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, CMHC and Public Works and Government Services Canada.

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Date Modified:
2011-07-26