Saturday December 12, 2020 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, editor | Island Social Trends
Earlier this month, the new housing minister announced that more than 600 new affordable rental homes are on the way for people with low- to-moderate incomes through the Building BC: Community Housing Fund.
“These projects will mean new, affordable homes for a wide range of people – from seniors on fixed incomes to growing families and people with disabilities,” said David Eby, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing, in his December 2 release. “There’s a lot more to do, and I look forward to working with the non-profit housing sector and all our partners to continue delivering the homes people need.”
The new housing projects are expected to begin construction by summer 2021, it was stated in the release.
Providing 634 new homes:
There are 16 projects (four of which are on Vancouver Island), to provide a total of 634 new homes:
* Burnaby, 6438 Byrnepark Dr.: 20 homes for seniors, families and individuals living independently with mental health challenges, in partnership with Tikva Rental Housing Society [construction expected to start in January 2021]
* Chilliwack, 46600 La’:le’m Way: 23 homes for Indigenous families, in partnership with Tzeachten First Nation [construction expected to start in March 2021]
* Clearwater, Phase 5: 20 homes for seniors, in partnership with Evergreen Acres Seniors Housing Society [construction expected to start in April 2021]
* D’Arcy, Lot 150, 151 and 152 (Hunter Jack Cres.): 10 homes for Indigenous families, Elders and individuals, in partnership with N’Quatqua First Nation [construction expected to start in May 2021]
* Elkford, 214 Alpine Way: 22 homes for seniors and people with disabilities, in partnership with Elkford Housing Society [construction expected to start in February 2021]
* Nanaimo, 6010 Hammond Bay Rd.: 53 homes for independent seniors, people with disabilities and families, in partnership with Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society [construction expected to start in December 2020]
* Nanaimo, Lots 14-16, Road A, IR #4: eight homes for Indigenous families in La’lum’utul, in partnership with Snuneymuxw First Nation [construction expected to start in February 2021]
* Parksville, 371 Alberni Hwy.: 87 homes for seniors, people with disabilities and multi-generational families, in partnership with Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society [construction expected to start in January 2021]
* Port Coquitlam, 2481 Welcher Ave.: 63 homes for seniors, families and people with disabilities, in partnership with Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation [construction expected to start in February 2021]
* Richmond, 3699 Sexsmith Ave.: 11 homes for families and seniors, in partnership with More Than A Roof Housing [construction underway]
* Richmond, 5491 No. 2 Rd.: 80 homes for seniors, families and individuals living independently with mental health challenges, in partnership with Pathways Clubhouse Society of Richmond and the City of Richmond [construction expected to start in July 2021]
* Surrey, 10626 City Parkway: 91 homes for veterans with disabilities, along with a rehab centre for veterans, in partnership with the Vancouver Resource Society for the Physically Disabled [construction underway]
* Tofino, District Lot 114: 35 homes for families, independent seniors and people with disabilities, in partnership with Catalyst Community Developments Society and Tofino Housing Corporation [construction expected to start in April 2021]
* Vancouver, 349 E. 6th Ave.: 82 homes for families and seniors, in partnership with Brightside Community Homes Foundation [construction expected to start in August 2021]
* Vernon, 6309-6321-6335 Okanagan Landing Rd.: 13 homes for seniors, people with disabilities and families, in partnership with Vernon and District Community Land Trust construction expected to start in March 2021
* Vernon, Reserve #1: 16 homes for Indigenous Elders, couples and families, in partnership with Okanagan Indian Band [construction expected to start in April 2021]
Community Housing Fund:
The Community Housing Fund supports mixed-income buildings. These projects have:
- 50% of units for households with annual incomes up to $64,000;
- 30% of units for households with annual incomes up to approximately $74,000; and
- 20% of units for households with very low incomes (including those on income or disability assistance).
The request for proposals for the current intake of the Community Housing Fund, which launched in May 2020, is open until mid-January 2021. Approximately 3,000 new affordable homes are expected to be funded this intake — the second since 2017. The first seven projects funded through this intake were announced in September 2020.
“Every new home announced today will make a difference in the lives of British Columbians for generations to come, because homes in the community housing sector remain affordable forever,” said Jill Atkey, CEO, BC Non-Profit Housing Association. “While we have much more to do, these homes add to a strong foundation on which to keep building.”
===== BACKGROUND:
- The Community Housing Fund is part of the Province’s 10-year, $7-billion housing plan.
- It is an investment of $1.9 billion to build more than 14,000 mixed-income rental homes for low- and moderate-income families and individuals.
- In two and a half years, more than 5,700 homes have been completed, are under construction or are in development through the Community Housing Fund program in more than 45 communities.
===== LINKS:
- For information about the Building BC: Community Housing Fund, along with details on how to apply for the current intake, visit: http://www.bchousing.org/CHF
- A map showing the location of all announced provincially funded housing projects in B.C. is available online: https://www.bchousing.org/homes-for-BC
- To learn about the steps the Province is taking to tackle the housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for British Columbians, visit: https://workingforyou.gov.bc.ca