VERNON - The Province is working in partnership to deliver new affordable rental homes for people with low to moderate incomes in Vernon and Oliver.

"People in the southern Interior need more affordable rental housing," said David Eby, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing. "These two projects reflect the commitment our government has made to working with municipalities and community partners to open appropriate, contemporary affordable rental homes, not just as a place for people to live, but as essential infrastructure vital for the success of any community."

Construction has started on Phase 2 of Albert Place, located at 3610 - 25th Ave. in Vernon. The project will be operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Vernon and District Branch and provide 29 affordable rental homes for families and seniors. CMHA already operates another provincially funded 18-unit building on site, which is close to transit, grocery stores, a senior centre and a child care facility.

In addition, construction on a 46-unit project at 5931 Airport St. in Oliver is scheduled to start in the coming months. The building will be owned and operated by M'akola Housing Society and provide affordable rental homes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous families, Elders, seniors and people with disabilities. The development is located near shops, services and amenities including outdoor recreation.

Both projects are funded through the Province's Building BC: Community Housing Fund. The Province is providing a grant of about $3 million for the project in Vernon and about $4.6 million for the project in Oliver.

The Province is working in partnership to increase the supply of affordable rental housing in the Okanagan for people at a range of income levels. Including these new projects, there are nearly 1,900 rental homes completed or underway.

Quotes:

Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Monashee -

"Affordable housing is key to building strong and healthy communities. For many in Vernon, finding affordable housing remains a challenge. These homes will go a long way in helping to make life better for families and seniors. I greatly appreciate our government's ongoing efforts to address this need since 2017 and am happy to share that these efforts have been trending upward and are much appreciated by our community."

Roly Russell, MLA for Boundary-Similkameen -

"I'm proud to be part of a government that is working in partnership to make sure people in every corner of the province have a safe and affordable place to live. This project will deliver 46 affordable rental homes in one more community where we know they are needed."

Julia Payson, executive director, Canadian Mental Health Association Vernon and District Branch -

"Safe and affordable housing is a critical component of wellness and health. CMHA Vernon is proud to be working with our partners to build these new family and senior units. We appreciate the support of neighbours, tenants and the city in turning pavement and grass into new homes."

Victor Cumming, mayor, City of Vernon -

"One of city council's top priorities is the creation of more accessible and attainable housing for Vernon residents, so we are thrilled to see this project moving into the construction phase. The expansion of Albert Place will include a variety of housing types to provide safe and affordable housing for seniors and families within walking distance of key services, activities and parks.

The city is pleased to continue working closely with our partners to find additional housing solutions to meet the needs and demands of our growing community."

Kevin Albers, CEO, M'akola Housing Society -

"All successful affordable housing projects are the result of strong partnerships, and this project is no different. We are thrilled to bring 46 new affordable homes to Oliver and look forward to serving the community."

Martin Johansen, mayor, Town of Oliver -

"The strongest communities are those that offer a range of housing options to meet the needs of people. Oliver has a significant shortage of affordable housing availability with many individuals, seniors and families on long waitlists trying to access housing. The town welcomes BC Housing putting the shovels in the ground to start this 46-unit development on Airport Street."

Quick Facts:

• The Community Housing Fund is part of the Province's 10-year, $7-billion housing plan.
• It 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 6,300 of these homes are already open, under construction or in development.
• The Community Housing Fund 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).

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