Metro Vancouver unveils its 10-year $190 million housing plan

In what it says is a “framework” on how to provide, preserve, and expand current and future housing in the region, Metro Vancouver unveiled its 10-year housing plan on Tuesday.

According to officials, the plan outlines details around the investment of approximately $190 million in affordable housing over the next decade, with the goal to provide 1,350 new and redeveloped units in the region.

“Homes are more than just buildings,” said Metro Vancouver Chair, Sav Dhaliwal.

As such, Dhaliwal said “a major focus” of the plan deals with “supporting healthy and engaged communities to support people throughout various life stages and evolving housing needs.”

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In total, the plan has what officials described as four “broad” goals:

• Provide affordable housing that supports healthy and engaged communities;
• Preserve and renew existing sites to maintain affordability, improve sustainability and accessibility;
• Grow strategically through redevelopment and expansion; and
• Develop partnerships to expand affordable rental housing across the region

“Partnerships are absolutely essential to address the shortage of affordable housing in our region,” said Mike Hurley, Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Housing Committee.

The plan, he continued, “emphasizes building positive relationships – with our tenants as well as with member municipalities, other non-profit housing agencies, the development sector and provincial and federal governments.”