PORT ALBERNI - Construction is underway on an affordable rental housing building with 48 homes for seniors and Indigenous Elders in Port Alberni.

"These new homes will help seniors and Indigenous Elders in Port Alberni remain in the community they helped build, where their families and friends surround them," said Josie Osborne, MLA for Mid Island-Pacific Rim, on behalf of David Eby, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing. "This project would not be possible without strong partnerships.

Thank you to the Westcoast Native Healthcare Society (WNHS) and the City of Port Alberni for their vision, determination, and for supporting this significant project."

Located at 6151 Russell Pl., the five-storey building will provide 45 one-bedroom and three two-bedroom homes for seniors and Indigenous Elders with low to moderate incomes. In addition to the 48 homes, the building will have amenity and laundry rooms, accessible washrooms and a community garden.The Province, through BC Housing, is providing $5 million to the project through the Building BC: Community Housing Fund, as well as an annual operating subsidy of $302,335.

"On behalf of council for the City of Port Alberni, we would like to thank the Province for another significant investment into much needed housing in our community," said Sharie Minions, mayor, City of Port Alberni. "Access to safe, secure and affordable housing is a basic foundational need on which people build their lives and is essential for us in building a complete and thriving community. We would also like to extend our thanks to the board and staff at WNHS for their many years of work on this project and their ongoing advocacy for housing needs in our area."

WNHS provided the land for the project and will own and operate the homes. The project is located on the Tsawaayuus (Rainbow Gardens) campus, a multi-level care facility for seniors in Port Alberni, operated by WNHS.

"The Westcoast Native Healthcare Society is committed to providing services to seniors in the Alberni Valley and surrounding communities," said Darleen Watts, board president, WNHS. "This apartment complex will provide safe, affordable housing for seniors."

People are expected to move into their new homes in summer 2022.

Quick Facts:

• The Community Housing Fund (CHF) is part of the Province's 10-year, $7-billion housing plan.
  • The CHF is an investment of $1.9 billion to build more than 14,000 affordable rental homes for low- and moderate-income families and individuals over 10 years.
  • More than 8,600 of these homes are already open, under construction or in development.
• The CHF supports mixed-income buildings where 50% of the units are for households with annual incomes up to $64,000, 30% of the units are for households with incomes up to approximately $74,000 and 20% of the units are for households with very low incomes (including those on income or disability assistance).
• Including these homes, there are nearly 30,000 affordable homes completed or underway in communities throughout B.C.

Learn More:

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

Contacts:

Ministry of Attorney General and Responsible for Housing
Media Relations
778 678-1572

BC Housing
Media Relations
media@bchousing.org