Seniors' Rental Housing initiative

Overview

The Seniors' Rental Housing initiative is part of the Canada-BC Affordable Housing Initiative agreement. This new $123 million initiative, jointly funded by the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada, will be delivered through an amendment to this agreement, signed April 8, 2009. The Province is matching the federal government's contribution of $61.79 million to develop up to 1,000 new affordable housing units for seniors and persons with disabilities and creating close to 800 jobs.

By working in partnership with federal and local governments, non-profit housing providers and the private sector, the Province is helping to stimulate the economy by developing new affordable rental housing in communities with housing needs across B.C.  As housing sites for this initiative must be provincially- or municipally-owned, the Province is working with local governments to identify municipally-owned sites for development as well as potential provincially-owned properties. BC Housing will coordinate the construction of developments. Once completed, housing developments will be managed by non-profit operators. Click here for more program information.

Construction on the new units will begin in fall 2009. The new developments will use either modular, manufactured housing construction or site-built wood frame construction to promote B.C. wood product use. Where possible, new developments will be co-located close to existing seniors housing.

To date, locations for over 200 units have been identified in communities across B.C. Click here to view the development illustrations.  

The Seniors' Rental Housing initiative helps implement the provincial housing strategy, Housing Matters BC. This initiative is an important addition to the range of housing options for seniors, including SAFER, Seniors' Supportive Housing, and Independent Living BC.

For more information