VANCOUVER - A new affordable rental housing project for seniors and families on Southwest Marine Drive is part of the 3,500 new homes underway or completed in Vancouver, thanks to partnerships between the Province, the City of Vancouver and community partners.

"People in Vancouver deserve safe, secure and affordable housing, but the last provincial government chose to ignore the housing crisis", said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "We're making different choices and investing in the housing people need. Working with our community partners and the City of Vancouver, we're delivering thousands of homes so people have housing that works for them."

The Province is partnering with the City of Vancouver and New Chelsea Society to build 102 affordable rental homes at 75 and 95 SW Marine Dr. Comprised of two six-storey buildings, the development will provide studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom homes for individuals and families with low to middle incomes.

"Using city-owned land to provide homes for low- and middle-income residents is critical in tackling the lack of affordable housing in Vancouver", said Kennedy Stewart, mayor, City of Vancouver. "But, the real magic comes from the partnerships we forge with local non-profit organizations and senior levels of government. We're grateful for our partnership with BC Housing and New Chelsea Society on this project, which will provide homes for hundreds of people who live and work in Vancouver."

New Chelsea Society is receiving $10.2 million from the Province's Building BC: Community Housing Fund, as well as construction financing and annual operating funding, for the project.The city is providing the land valued at $22.7 million and will waive development cost charges of approximately $1.6 million.

"New Chelsea Society is very proud to be partnering with the Province and the City of Vancouver, and to have been selected to be the owner/operator of this affordable housing project for seniors and families in Vancouver," said Pat Buchannon, CEO, New Chelsea Society. "This year, New Chelsea Society celebrates its 65th anniversary of welcoming our first resident
into our housing. At a time when more affordable housing is so desperately needed in our city, we look forward to that day when we can welcome our newest residents to their new Southwest Marine Drive home."

Construction is expected to begin in spring 2020.

These homes are part of the more than 22,000 new homes that are completed or underway throughout B.C. because of provincial investments.

Delivering affordable housing is a shared priority between government and the BC Green Party caucus, and is part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement.

Quick Facts:

• This housing development is funded through the Building BC: Community Housing Fund, a $1.9-billion investment over 10 years to build more than 14,000 mixed-income rental homes throughout the province.
  • More than 5,200 of these homes are in development and under construction, including more than 1,000 homes in Vancouver.
• The project on Southwest Marine Drive will reflect the following mix of incomes:
  • 20 units for people with annual incomes up to approximately $26,000;
  • 51 units for households with incomes ranging between approximately $25,000 and $73,000; and
  • 31 units for households with incomes up to approximately $113,000.

Learn More:

A map showing the location of all announced provincially funded housing projects in B.C. is 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/

To learn more about the locations of housing projects supported by the City of Vancouver's Affordable Housing Agency, visit: https://vaha.ca/projects/

To learn about the steps the City of Vancouver is taking to tackle the housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for Vancouver residents, visit: https://vancouver.ca/people-programs/housing-vancouver-strategy.aspx

To learn more about New Chelsea Society, visit: https://www.newchelsea.ca/

A backgrounder follows.

Contacts:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Media Relations
778 584-1255

City of Vancouver
Civic Engagement and Communications
media@vancouver.ca
604 871-6336

BC Housing
media@bchousing.org

BACKGROUNDER

Province building new homes in Vancouver to meet full spectrum of housing needs

The B.C. government is working with the City of Vancouver and community partners to build affordable homes that cover the full spectrum of housing needs for people in Vancouver.

Budget 2018 included a $7-billion investment in the homes people need. As a result of that investment, approximately 3,500 new homes are completed or underway for a range of people
who are struggling to find a place to live in Vancouver, from people who are experiencing homelessness and seniors on fixed incomes, to middle-income families and individuals. As of
Aug. 31, 2019, this includes:

Housing for middle-income earners. For a majority of projects, this would include households with annual incomes between $51,000 and $113,000 - approximately 395 homes:

• Building BC: Community Housing Fund: approximately 315 rental homes for people with middle incomes.
• HousingHub: approximately 80 homes.

Housing for people with low to moderate incomes (including some where rents are based on 30% of household income and others with set rents, which are designed to be affordable; to
moderate-income households, in most cases earning less than $70,000 annually) - approximately 2,290 homes:

• Building BC: Community Housing Fund: approximately 740 rental homes for people with low to moderate incomes.
• Affordable Rental Housing Program: approximately 870 homes for low to moderate incomes.
• Deepening Affordability Fund: nearly 450 homes for low to moderate incomes.
• Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund: nearly 230 homes for Indigenous peoples, on- and off-reserve.

Housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness (shelter-rate housing) - 
approximately 785 homes:

• Rapid Response to Homelessness: 606 homes with 24/7 support.
• Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund: nearly 180 homes with 24/7 support.

Housing for women and children leaving violence - approximately 40 homes:

• Building BC: Women's Transition Housing Fund: nearly 40 spaces of transition, secondstage and affordable rental housing for women and children leaving violence.

Media Contacts:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Media Relations
778 584-1255

BC Housing
media@bchousing.org