Local Conservative candidates gathered in Ottawa Wednesday to hype up a Stephen Harper promise to pump $1.9 billion into homelessness and affordable housing over the next five years.

Tories say the money is meant to extend funding for three programs aimed at fighting homelessness and maintaining affordable housing.

"Our provincial colleagues have been calling for this, our municipal colleagues have been calling for this, and I think they'll be very pleased when they hear the news today that we're extending this over a five year period," said Social Development Minister Monte Solberg, who was on hand for the announcement.

"This is a $1.9-billion funding renewal, which is a big commitment and I think something to celebrate," added John Baird, the incumbent Tory MP for Ottawa West-Nepean.

Pledge has Liberal candidate on edge

The pledge, however, has the Liberal candidate for Ottawa West-Nepean frustrated.

"Don't believe it," David Pratt, a former Liberal cabinet minister, told CTV Ottawa Wednesday night, adding the Tories have no interest in affordable housing.

"The lack of sincerity is evident on the part of the Conservatives because if they wanted to do something on housing, they had two-and-a-half years to do something on it and they did absolutely nothing."

In response to the Conservative pledge, Pratt said he wants to remind voters the Liberals took action when they were in office, making more units available for those in need of affordable housing.

In 2005, the federal Liberals signed a deal with Ontario that meant $45 million and more than 1,000 affordable housing units for Ottawa.

Unclear how much money Ottawa will get

Although it's not clear how much funding Ottawa will get from the Tory promise, community leaders say it is clear the capital needs help as it continues to struggle to find affordable homes for the city's low-income residents.

"The people that we serve are worrying about putting food on the table tomorrow, whether or not they have a roof over their head tonight," said Perry Rowe, of the Alliance to End Homelessness.

The waiting list for community housing in Ottawa is currently several years long and councillors have said many of the units need between $5-6 million in repairs.

"We need to see the cheques. It's one thing to make a campaign promise but until we see the cheques, we can't really help anybody," said Coun. Maria McRae.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Jonathan Rotondo