16
September
2019
|
11:55 AM
America/Los_Angeles

More affordable rental homes coming to Maple Ridge

MAPLE RIDGE – More families and seniors in Maple Ridge will have an affordable place to call home as construction starts on a building developed through a partnership between the Province and Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Community Services.

“Welcoming people into their new homes is what we are all working towards,” said Bob D’Eith, MLA for Maple Ridge-Mission, on behalf of Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “We are proud to be working with partners like Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Community Services to build housing that people can afford. These 94 new homes will make life easier for families and seniors in Maple Ridge.”

Located at 22768 119 Ave., the new rental home project will provide 94 units in a six-storey mixed-use building, with studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes for individuals, families and seniors in the community.

“These 94 new homes will give people in our community safe and secure housing options,” said Lisa Beare, MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows. “People who call Maple Ridge home should be able find housing and stay in their community. And we know it can be hard for families with children to find homes with enough space, which is why it’s so important for us to build these affordable family-sized homes.”

The project will include office space for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Community Services. The organization is leading the development and will operate the complex once it is complete. Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Community Services offers a wide variety of programs and services that help more than 13,000 people each year through 30 different programs and services.

“This project is a huge double win for our community,” said Mike Morden, mayor, Maple Ridge. “After close to 50 years of work in our community, our Community Services family will have a permanent home. Above its new offices, there will be 94 units of affordable and accessible housing for seniors, families and people struggling with the high cost of housing in our region. This is a great project and partnership.”

The Province is providing $13 million in funding, as well as construction financing for the project. Once complete, the Province will also provide operational funding to further increase the affordability of 20 of the units. Ten of these homes will be offered at the provincial shelter rate ($375 per month) and 10 will be rent-geared-to-income. This means that people with household incomes under $51,500 will pay no more than 30% of their monthly income towards rent. The City of Maple Ridge has committed to support the project through a suite of fee reductions and deferrals consistent with the former Town Centre Incentive Program.

“Community Services is honoured to be a member of the housing community bringing safe, appropriate and affordable housing options to many individuals and families who have been desperately seeking local housing,” said Vicki Kipps, executive director, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Community Services. “We are incredibly grateful for the financial support of the Province of British Columbia and the guidance from BC Housing as we design and construct this beautiful building that will combine a community of multi-use residential homes with social services space for over 30 different programs and services.”

Site preparation for the development has started with project completion estimated for early 2021.

The Province is tackling the housing crisis in British Columbia by increasing supply, curbing demand and cracking down on fraud in real estate.

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

Quick Facts:

  • The project will consist of 36 studios, 40 one-bedroom, 13 two-bedroom and five three-bedroom suites, for a total of 94 homes.
  • The approximate rents are projected to be:
    • studio: $375 to $850/month
    • one bedroom: $375 to $1,050/month
    • two bedroom: $1,200 to $1,400/month
    • three bedroom: $1,400 to $1,600/month
  • People are invited to help name the new housing project by emailing suggestions with “Name the Building Opportunity” in the subject line. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 31, 2019: affordablerentalhousing@comservice.bc.ca
  • 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 through partnerships.

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

A backgrounder follows.

Contacts:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Media Relations
778 584-2433

Andrea Coutts
BC Housing
778 452-2745

BACKGROUNDER 2

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.

More than 21,000 new homes are completed, under construction or in the approvals process for a range of people who 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 3,260 homes:

  • Building BC: Community Housing Fund: approximately 1,500 rental homes for people with middle incomes.
  • HousingHub: approximately 1,760 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 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 2,150 homes for low to moderate incomes.
  • Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund: more than 1,160 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) - more than 2,900 homes:

  • Rapid Response to Homelessness: 2,064 homes with 24/7 support.
  • Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund: nearly 690 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 21,300 homes

Contacts:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Media Relations
778 584-2433

Andrea Coutts
BC Housing
778 452-2745