BC government announces funding for over 600 new affordable rental homes

BC government announces funding for over 600 new affordable homes

Artistic rendering of the 2018 design for Surrey Veterans Village. (Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command/Lark Group)

The provincial government has announced 16 affordable rental housing projects across BC, creating a combined total of 634 units, have been selected to be supported by the 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 the newly appointed Minister Responsible for Housing, in a statement.

“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.”

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This includes seven projects within the Lower Mainland, including one in Vancouver at 349 East 6th Avenue, where there will be 82 new homes for families and seniors in partnership with Brightside Community Homes Foundation.

Artistic rendering of 349 East 6th Avenue, Vancouver. (IBI Group/Brightside Community Homes)

Other major projects in the region include 80 homes for seniors, families, and individuals living independently with mental challenges at 5491 No. 2 Road in Richmond, in partnership with Pathways Clubhouse Society of Richmond and the City of Richmond.

In Surrey, provincial funding will support Legion Veterans Village at 10626 City Parkway, where there will be a mixed-use development with 91 homes for veterans with disabilities, along with a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mental health services rehabilitation centre for veterans, in partnership with the Vancouver Resource Society for the Physically Disabled.

This $312 million, multi-tower development, currently under construction, also includes over 300 condominiums, which will help fund the veterans facilities, as well as a replacement local legion. Construction on the first phase with the affordable rental housing and rehabilitation centre is expected to reach completion in Spring 2022.

Artistic rendering of the 2018 design for Surrey Veterans Village. (Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command/Lark Group)

Artistic rendering of a public housing project at 2481 Welcher Avenue, Port Coquitlam. (Metro Vancouver Regional District)

Another major project is in partnership with Metro Vancouver Regional District — 63 homes for seniors, families, and people with disabilities at 2481 Welcher Avenue in Port Coquitlam.

This is the full list of the projects in the Lower Mainland announced today:

Burnaby, 6438 Byrnepark Drive: 20 homes for seniors, families and individuals living independently with mental health challenges, in partnership with Tikva Rental Housing Society. Construction begins Summer 2021.
Chilliwack, 46600 La’:le’m Way: 23 homes for Indigenous families, in partnership with Tzeachten First Nation. Construction begins March 2021.
Port Coquitlam, 2481 Welcher Avenue: 63 homes for seniors, families and people with disabilities, in partnership with Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation. Construction begins February 2021.
Richmond, 3699 Sexsmith Avenue: 11 homes for families and seniors, in partnership with More Than A Roof Housing. Construction is underway.
Richmond, 5491 No. 2 Road: 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 begins July 2021.
Surrey, Legion Veterans Village at 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 is underway.
Vancouver, 349 East 6th Avenue: 82 homes for families and seniors, in partnership with Brightside Community Homes Foundation. Construction begins August 2021.

Through BC Housing, the provincial government’s Community Housing Fund will invest $1.9 billion over 10 years to help create 14,350 units of mixed-income, affordable rental housing across the province.

To be eligible for funding, project partners must create a project with 50% of the units for households with annual incomes up to $64,000, 30% of the units for households with annual incomes up to $74,000, and 20% of the units for households with very low incomes, including those on income or disability assistance.

The request for proposals for the current intake of the fund, which launched in May 2020, is open until mid-January 2021. About 3,000 new affordable homes are expected to be funded this intake.

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