CRANBROOK - Twenty new homes are on the way for families, seniors and people in need of affordable housing in Cranbrook, where the rental vacancy rate is near 1%.

"These homes will help support the community's health by providing families and seniors with safe, secure housing to grow and prosper," said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "Working with partners, we're delivering affordable housing in all corners of the province, and I'm excited to see these homes getting underway in Cranbrook."

Located at 126 and 130 21st Ave. South, the apartment building will be a redevelopment of a BC Housing-owned property and will provide affordable housing for low- to moderate-income individuals, families and seniors. Four units will be available for people with disabilities.

"On behalf of our community and council, we're pleased to welcome these affordable homes for families and seniors in Cranbrook," said Lee Pratt, mayor, City of Cranbrook. "We're proud to work with the Province and our community partners to help support our residents with important housing projects like this one."

The project is in the design development stage, with construction anticipated to start by spring 2020. After construction, the development will continue to be operated by BC Housing.

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:

• Rents for this project will be geared to income, which means people will pay approximately 30% of their gross household income.
• Including these homes, the Province is working in partnership to build 155 affordable homes in Cranbrook:
  • Affordable Rental Housing program: 20 affordable rental homes for low- to moderate-income individuals, families and seniors
  • Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund: 39 affordable rental homes for Indigenous peoples
  • Student housing: 96 beds (College of the Rockies)
• 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
778 698-9176

Laura Matthews
BC Housing
604 439-8571

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 who are struggling to find a place to live, from people experiencing homelessness and seniors on fixed incomes, to middle-income families, students and individuals. As of the end of April 2019, 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 to Homelessness: more than 2,000 homes with 24/7 supports.
• Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund: more than 550 homes with 24/7 supports.
• 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.
• Close to 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 Matthews
BC Housing
604 439-8571