AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNDERWAY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

KELOWNA – The Governments of Canada and British Columbia, along with community partners, gathered today to announce the construction of 32 new housing developments, creating 404 units for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities across British Columbia. The announcement took place at the official groundbreaking for 10 new seniors’ apartments at Cedar Court.

“The Government of Canada is helping Canadian seniors and people with disabilities during these tough economic times by providing close to $29 million for these 32 projects through Canada’s Economic Action Plan,” said the Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). “Across the province, this achievement gives hope to people who need quality affordable housing that meets their needs, while at the same time, creating local jobs.”

“The Province is investing over $33 million to increase the supply of affordable rental housing in British Columbia for low-income seniors and people with disabilities, and to stimulate local economies by creating jobs,” said Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing and Social Development. “This investment is a definitive example of our provincial commitment to provide more affordable housing solutions for those in need across B.C.”

Through an amendment to the Canada-British Columbia Affordable Housing Initiative Agreement, the federal and provincial governments are contributing a combined total of over $62 million for more than 400 Seniors’ Rental Housing (SRH) apartments in British Columbia. Municipalities and community partners contributed a total of approximately $6.2 million to the SRH developments through a combination of property tax exemptions, waived developmental costs charges, land equity and/or capital cost contributions to support their local SRH developments.

“Lake Country has a great community of seniors with an active and engaging lifestyle,” said Mayor James Baker, District of Lake Country. “Cedar Court offers these seniors an excellent and affordable housing option so that they can continue to reside in the community they are proud to call home.”

The Society of HOPE will manage and operate the 10 SRH apartments. Established in 1989, The Society of HOPE is a non-profit organization committed to providing quality, affordable housing to low-income residents in the Central Okanagan.

“Lake Country seniors will soon have greater accessibility to more quality, affordable rental homes in their community,” said Lorne Gerber, President, The Society of HOPE “We are pleased to partner with all levels of government to make this vital housing project possible.”

The Seniors' Rental Housing (SRH) initiative is a result of a $365-million joint investment under an amendment to the Canada-British Columbia Affordable Housing Initiative Agreement, which includes funding through Canada’s Economic Action Plan and by the Government of British Columbia.

This initiative, initially announced by the two levels of government on April 8, 2009, will provide $123.5 million, including $104 million for seniors and $19.5 million for persons with disabilities, to develop approximately 1,300 new affordable rental housing units, which will help to stimulate local economies in smaller communities across B.C. Under terms of the agreement, the provincial and federal governments will provide matching contributions of $61.79 million.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada’s commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over the next five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless. It provides $400 million, over two years, to build new rental housing for housing for low-income seniors and $75 million for housing for persons with disabilities. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for new and existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.

The Province of British Columbia’s $14-billion capital infrastructure program is creating up to 88,000 jobs, helping to build vital public infrastructure in every region of the province and stimulating local economies across B.C.

For more information on this and other measures in Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

To find out how CMHC is working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1 800 668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan.

Through Housing Matters BC, the Province is addressing a range of housing needs, from homelessness to affordable rental housing and homeownership. In 2010-11, the Province will invest over $562 million to provide affordable housing and fight homelessness – more than four times as much as in 2001.

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BACKGROUNDER
CEDAR COURT

The Society of HOPE’s Cedar Court is a one-storey modular housing development located at 10230 Bottom Wood Lake Rd. in Lake Country and will provide 10 apartments for low-income seniors and people with disabilities in the community.

Construction is anticipated to be complete in winter 2011.

Partners and Funding

The estimated total capital cost of 32 SRH developments in 30 communities across the Province, totalling approximately 404 units, is over $68 million.

The total capital cost of Cedar Court is approximately $1.73 million for the 10 SRH units.

The Society of HOPE

The Society of HOPE is a registered non-profit organization that was established in 1989 with the mandate to provide quality, affordable housing and support for Central Okanagan residents in need.

SENIORS’ RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS IN B.C. 

 

Community	Number of Units	Development Name/Operator	Federal-provincial Contribution	Other Contributions*
100 Mile House	8	Pioneer Haven	$1.46M	$29,580
Baynes Lake**	8	Baynes Lake Seniors Housing Society	$1.16M	$305,665
Clearwater	10	Evergreen Acres Seniors Citizens Homes Society	$1.63M	$30,915
Cranbrook**	36	Application process underway	$4.58M	$756,927
Creston**	24	Application process underway	$3.34M	$161,700
Enderby	15	Enderby Memorial Terrace – Enderby Seniors Housing Society	$3.16M	$758,000
Fernie	12	Veneto – Fernie Family Housing Society	$1.79M	N/A
Fort St. John	8	Heritage Manor 3	$1.54M	$313,000
Fort Nelson	6	BC Housing	$1.33M	$73,971
Golden**	8	Mountainview – Golden Community Resources Society	$1.17M	$343,000
Kamloops	26	RiverBend Seniors Community – Thrupp Manor Association	$3.21M	N/A
Kamloops	15	Golden Vista – Canadian Mental Health Association – Kamloops Branch	$1.86M	N/A
Keremeos	16	Tumbleweed Terrace – Lower Similkameen Community Services Society	$2.21M	$129,460
Kimberley**	6	Marysville Lions Housing Society	$.887	$84,479
Lake Country	10	Cedar Court – Society of Hope	$1.52M	$223,700
Lillooet	8	Red Rock Manor	$1.35M	$56,440
Logan Lake	12	Application process underway	$1.74M	$31,500
Mackenzie	8	Autumn Lodge	$1.56M	$46,000
McBride	10	Beaverview Lodge	$1.63M	$11,800
Naramata	4	Application process underway	$.724	$593,000
New Hazelton	10	Roche View Lodge Society	$1.62M	$26,500
Port McNeil	6	Port McNeil Seniors Housing Society	$.870	$80,000
Prince George	30	Hart Pioneer Centre – Hart Pioneer Centre Association	$4.74M	$617,000
Prince Rupert	10	BC Housing	$1.6M	$152,400
Revelstoke**	8	Moberly Park Manor	$1.25M	$130,000
Revelstoke**	16	Mt. Begbie Manor – Revelstoke Senior Citizens Housing Society	$2.44M	$210,000
Taylor	8	BC Housing	$1.54M	$99,200
Telkwa	8	Application process underway	$1.35M	$53,400
Terrace	24	BC Houisng	$3.79M	$265,000
Tumbler Ridge	12	BC Houisng	$2.28M	$46,000
Valemount**	10	Golden Years	$1.48M	$111,910
Victoria	12	Beacon Hill	$1.79M	$540,000
Total	404		$62.60 M	$6.28 M

  
* May include municipal and/or community partner contributions and/or land equity. ** Project developed in partnership with Columbia Basin Trust. 

Media Contacts

Susan Thom
BC Housing
604 230-1301

Vincent Chou
BC Housing
604 833-8724

Val Rosenthal
CMHC Communications
604 737-4123