Thursday May 23, 2024 | VANCOUVER, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends | HOUSING NEWS
Another BC Government housing announcement rolled out today, this one in North Vancouver, emphasizing local partnerships.
People will soon have access to hundreds more affordable homes in communities they love through a partnership between the Province and Metro Vancouver.
“Safe, secure and affordable housing lifts up families, communities and our entire province,” said Premier David Eby.
“That’s why our government is taking action with a clear plan that puts people who live and work in our communities ahead of speculators who just want to make a quick buck at the expense of hard-working people. By partnering with Metro Vancouver, we are helping thousands of people find homes they can actually afford, so they can build good lives in our growing communities,” said Eby.
This is the second phase of a commitment between the Province, through BC Housing, and Metro Vancouver, through Metro Vancouver Housing, that will deliver approximately 670 below-market rental units.
Kahlon focussed that this is in partnership with local governments.
Four themes to address housing:
There were four themes with the Homes for People strategy, said Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon today:
- Addressing speculation in the marketplace to make sure that vacant homes are rented.
- Reducing red tape to get more housing built, such as small-scale housing units and more housing near transit.
- Address the existing housing stock, to protect housing through the rental protection fund.
- “Nothing can be done without government directly investing in affordable housing”.
“Through our Homes for People action plan, we are delivering thousands of new homes for people in Metro Vancouver,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing.
“We know people are struggling to find homes that meet their diverse needs, especially in a region that’s seeing increased pressure in the housing market. The partnership with Metro Vancouver will deliver more housing options that are within reach for people, in communities they call home.”
Vancouver projects:
Phase 2 projects are being planned at the following sites:
- 1144 Inlet St., Coquitlam (Malaspina Village Phase 2)
- Old Dollarton Road and Riverside Drive, North Vancouver (Riverside Drive)
- 2933 Heather St., Vancouver (Heather Place C)
- 100 Nelson St., Coquitlam (Park Court)
Phase 2 budgets, number of units and rents per project will be determined closer to project completion.
Speakers today:
Vancouver Counicllor Peter Meiszner of the Metro Vancouver Housing Committee addressed the partnership and the projects. There is also a non-profit organization called Metro Vancouver Housing which for over 50 years has provided homes for families across Metro Vancouver. They have 10,000 people with 3,400 affordable rental homes at 49 sites across the region.
“The Metro Vancouver region is an amazing place to live, but unfortunately we hear too often from people who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads. Housing affordability is one of the greatest stresses for people in Metro Vancouver and all orders of government are working to address this issue,” said Meiszner.
“We know that people need safe affordable places to call home if we are to address the affordability issues facing our region,” said Meiszner at the podium today.
Metro Vancouver Housing and BC Housing have joined forces on a multi-phase collaborative plan to build thousands of good, safe affordable homes throughout the region, said Meiszner.
The Mayor of North Vancouver, Mike Little, also spoke at the housing announcement today. He called the announcement “an important milestone”.
He says North Vancouver has been working with the provincial government to produce housing for the community “in a very challenging environment where we have supply chain issues, labour issues, and it’s very hard to put together a project with all the financing in the right place and make it happen,” said Little.
Little used the term “genuinely affordable housing”. North Vancouver council set out to identify sites for viable projects, to “get on top of the pile and be part of the solution”.
“It not only takes us breaking down the barriers between our organizers and working with the region, province and municipalities to make that deep dive affordable option available in our community,” said Mayor Little. He also thanked the construction workers especially to work in inclement weather, and with overall commitment to the housing supply challenge: “We can’t do it without you.”
“Affordable housing is a basis for life-changing opportunities,” said Monikka Tayag, a resident of a building project called Heather Place A. “I believe this project reflects Metro Vancouver’s dedication to us residents and will serve as an example of how communities thrive by supporting each other.” She said that transition to Heather Place A was uplifting, eliminating the stress of daunting rent assessment, rent-o-viction and a decrease in hearing complaints about children playing outside. She called it “a chance to enjoy life beyond financial burden”.
Overall investment:
These projects are part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the Province has nearly 78,000 homes that have been delivered or are underway throughout B.C., including nearly 40,000 homes in Metro Vancouver.
