PENTICTON - Families and individuals with moderate incomes now have access to 40 new affordable homes, as a new rental building with accessible units opens in the community.

The project is a partnership between the Province, the City of Penticton and the Penticton and District Society for Community Living (PDSCL).

“Welcoming families into their new homes is what we are all working towards,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Thanks to our partners here in Penticton and in communities throughout the province, thousands of people are benefiting from safe, secure and affordable housing.”

Located at 259 Backstreet Blvd., Backstreet Apartments is a new four-storey apartment building that features 40 units, including three accessible family units. Rents are based on household income and range from $650 for a one-bedroom unit to $1,450 for a two-bedroom unit.

“Today marks another step forward in supplying affordable housing for our residents,” said John Vassilaki, mayor of Penticton. “I am pleased to see this project completed and these new units made available, including the multi-room units specifically designed to meet the needs of families, an area of our affordable housing market that remains underserved. I hope with the opening and success of this project that other developers will be encouraged to build similar properties.”

Penticton and District Society for Community Living will operate the building that includes amenity space, under-building parking, including scooter parking with charging stations, bicycle storage, an elevator, a playground on-site and two retail commercial units.

"PDSCL is pleased to partner, once again, with BC Housing,” said Tony Laing, CEO, Penticton and District Society for Community Living. “This project, with its affordable rents, will bring stability for families, attract workers to the downtown area and support our local economy."

People will begin moving into their new homes this month.

Quick Facts:

• The B.C. government provided approximately $14.2 million for this project.
• To address the issue of housing affordability for British Columbians, the Province is curbing speculation in B.C.'s housing market and helping build 114,000 affordable market rental, non-profit, supported social housing and owner-purchase housing units through partnerships.
• More than 20,000 new homes are complete or underway throughout B.C because of provincial investments, including more than 1,000 homes in the Okanagan.
• Projects in Penticton include:
  • Rapid Response to Homelessness (modular housing): 62 homes with 24/7 support for people experiencing homelessness
  • Women’s Transition Housing Fund: 12 units and up to 36 beds for women and children leaving violence
• Delivering affordable housing is a shared commitment between government and the BC Green Party caucus and is a part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement.

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 find out what the Province is doing to improve housing affordability, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/bc-government-addressing-housing-affordability-challenges

Read Homes for B.C., government’s 30-point plan to address housing affordability for British Columbians: bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2018/homesbc/2018_Homes_For_BC.pdf

A backgrounder follows

Contacts:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Media Relations
778 698-9176

Tracy Wells
BC Housing
604 456-8841

BACKGROUNDER

Province building new homes to meet full spectrum of housing needs

The B.C. government is working in partnership to build 114,000 affordable homes that cover the full spectrum of housing needs for British Columbians by 2028.

Budget 2018 included a $7-billion investment in the homes people need. As a result of that investment, more than 20,000 new homes are completed, under construction or in the approvals process for a range of people that are struggling to find a place to live — from people who are experiencing homelessness and seniors on fixed incomes, to middle-income families, students and individuals. To date, this includes:

Housing for middle-income earners (households with annual incomes between $50,000 and $150,000) – approximately 2,460 homes:

• Building BC: Community Housing Fund: approximately 1,500 rental homes for people with middle incomes.
• HousingHub: 960 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 that $70,000 annually) – approximately 9,200 homes:

• Building BC: Community Housing Fund: approximately 3,700 rental homes for people with low to moderate incomes.
• Affordable Rental Housing Program: nearly 1,600 homes for low to moderate incomes.
• Deepening Affordability Fund: more than 2,100 homes for low to moderate incomes.
• Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund: more than 1,150 homes for Indigenous peoples, on and off reserve.
• Regional Housing First Program: more than 600 homes for people with low to moderate incomes.

Housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness (shelter-rate housing) – approximately 2,800 homes:

• Rapid Response for Homelessness: more than 2,000 homes with 24/7 support.
• Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund: more than 550 homes with 24/7 support.
• Regional Housing First Program: more than 170 homes for those ready to live independently with supports.

Housing for women and children leaving violence – approximately 340 homes:

• Building BC: Women’s Transition Housing Fund: approximately 340 spaces of transition, second-stage and affordable rental housing for women and children leaving violence.

Housing for students – approximately 5,600 homes:

• BC Student Housing Loan Program: approximately 2,700 on-campus student housing units are underway or in the approvals process.
• Nearly 2,900 student housing units are also underway or in development through partnerships with post-secondary institutions.

Total: approximately 20,400 homes

Contacts:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Media Relations
778 698-9176

Laura Mathews
BC Housing
604 439-8571