KELOWNA - The Province is delivering close to 250 new affordable rental homes for people in the Kelowna region.

Construction is beginning on two rental developments, and families have moved into a newly completed townhome complex.

"People deserve safe and secure homes, but even middle-income people like teachers and small business owners have struggled to find affordable housing in the Kelowna area," said Selina Robinson, B.C.'s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "These new homes will mean that people - from young families to seniors - can stay in their community, close to their friends and family."

Construction has started on a four-storey building at 1060 Cawston Ave. that will provide 40 affordable rental homes for low- to middle-income individuals, families, and women and children. This project is a partnership between the governments of Canada and B.C., the City of Kelowna and NOW Canada Society. Monthly rents are projected to range from $375 for a studio to approximately $1,835 for a three-bedroom rental.

Work is also underway on Carrington View, which will provide 186 new rental homes for people with middle incomes. The Province, through BC Housing's HousingHub, is partnering with Highstreet Ventures to deliver net-zero energy-ready homes, built to Step 4 of the provincial Energy Step Code, for households making between $50,000 and $100,000 each year. Projected monthly rents for the studio, one- and two-bedroom homes range from approximately $1,210 to $1,590. Located at 2200 Majoros Rd. in West Kelowna, the development will consist of three four-storey apartment buildings.

As well, the Province partnered with the City of Kelowna and the Society of Hope to build 21 affordable rental homes at 165 Celano Cres. Families moved into their new homes in November 2019, and all of the homes are fully occupied. Monthly rents for the development, named Providence Boulevard, are $915 for a two-bedroom townhome and $1,100 for a three-bedroom townhome.

These projects are part of more than 22,000 new homes that are complete or underway around the province, including over 1,200 in the Kelowna area, as part of the Homes for B.C. housing plan.

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

Quotes:

Ahmed Hussen, federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation-
"Through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, our government is investing in affordable housing here in Kelowna and across Canada to help create jobs and improve quality of life for those who need it most. NOW Canada Society’s project at 1060 Cawston Ave. will also focus on housing for women and their children, who are a core target group identified by the National Housing Strategy. These 40 new homes will add much-needed affordable housing capacity to this community.”

Colin Basran, mayor, City of Kelowna -
"The rental vacancy rate and costs in Kelowna makes it a struggle for many to pay market rents due to supply and demand. That’s why these developments are so important, adding to the ‘missing middle’ of housing inventory identified in the city’s 2017 Housing Needs Analysis.”

Liz Talbott, executive director, NOW Canada Society -
"NOW Canada is delighted to be partnering with all levels of government to create more affordable housing for Kelowna residents. This is another step forward in addressing the lack of housing for people with low to moderate incomes in our region.”

Scott Butler, president, Highstreet Ventures -
"Highstreet is excited to make Step 4 of the Energy Step Code a reality for affordable rentals, 12 years ahead of the provincial requirement. We’re demonstrating to the industry that we can build a sustainable community at a reasonable cost of $185 per square foot. We’re pleased to see that the Province is supporting affordable housing.”

Luke Stack, executive director, the Society of Hope -
"Our society is so pleased to partner with BC Housing and the City of Kelowna to deliver quality affordable housing to working families. This project is an example of how we build stronger communities in Kelowna."

Quick Facts:

• More than 1,200 new homes are completed or being delivered in Kelowna and West Kelowna:
  • Community Housing Fund: 73 affordable rental homes for individuals, families and seniors with low, moderate and middle incomes
  • Indigenous Housing Fund: 66 affordable rental homes for Indigenous peoples (Kelowna and Westbank)
  • Women's Transition Housing Fund: Approximately 48 units of second-stage and permanent affordable housing
  • Supportive Housing Fund: 49 supportive homes for people experiencing homelessness
  • Rapid Response to Homelessness program: 147 supportive homes for people experiencing homelessness
  • HousingHub: 566 rental homes for people with middle incomes Connect with the Province of B.C. at: news.gov.bc.ca/connect
  • Deepening Affordability Fund: 89 affordable rental homes for families
  • Student Housing: 220 homes (UBC Okanagan)

Learn More:
As Canada's authority on housing, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada will have a home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, visit: www.cmhc.ca

To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit: www.placetocallhome.ca

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/

A map showing the location of all announced provincially funded housing projects in B.C. is online: https://www.bchousing.org/homes-for-BC

The HousingHub is a BC Housing branch that works with community, government and nonprofit and private-sector stakeholders to help create affordable rental housing and homeownership options for middle-income British Columbians: https://www.bchousing.org/housinghub

Two backgrounders follow.

Contacts:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Media Relations
778 584-1255

BC Housing
media@bchousing.org

BACKGROUNDER 1

Funding for new housing projects in Kelowna

1060 Cawston Ave., Kelowna:

• The Government of Canada is investing $3.9 million under the Federal Co-Investment Fund.
• The Province provided $4.8 million to NOW Canada Society to purchase the land.
  • The Province is also providing $4 million from the Community Housing Fund, construction financing of $8.6 million and will provide estimated annual operating funding of approximately $204,000.
• The City of Kelowna will contribute development cost charge reductions of approximately $33,000.

Carrington View, 2200 Majoros Rd., West Kelowna:

• The Province, through BC Housing's Housing Hub, is providing $39 million in construction financing to Highstreet Ventures.

Providence Boulevard, 165 Celano Cres., Kelowna:

• The Province provided a grant of $4.7 million and construction financing of $4 million.
• The City of Kelowna provided the land valued at $750,000.

Contacts:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Media Relations
778 584-1255

BC Housing
media@bchousing.org

BACKGROUNDER 2

Province building new homes to meet full spectrum of housing needs

The B.C. government is working in partnership with non-profits, municipalities, First Nations, Indigenous housing organizations and the private sector 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 23,000 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. As of Dec. 31, 2019, this includes:

Housing for people with middle incomes

The average annual household income qualifying for homes underway is under $99,000 per year:

• HousingHub: 2,802 homes

Housing for people with low to moderate incomes

This includes people residing in social housing (household incomes less than $65,000) as well as those living in affordable market rentals (households with annual incomes up to $74,000) – 9,837 homes:

Affordable market:

• Building BC: Community Housing Fund (30% of units in each project): 1,565 rental homes for people with low to moderate incomes
• Affordable Rental Housing Program: 1,615 homes for people with low to moderate incomes
• Deepening Affordability Fund: 1,976 homes for people with low to moderate incomes
• Regional Housing First Program: 907 homes for people with low to moderate incomes

Social housing or subsidized rents:

• Building BC: Community Housing Fund (50% of units in each project): 2,609 rental homes for people with low incomes
• Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund: 1,165 homes for Indigenous peoples, on- and off- reserve

Housing for people with very low incomes

Rental housing for people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness, or for people with very low incomes (includes supportive housing and shelter-rate housing) – 4,795 homes:

• Rapid Response to Homelessness: 2,012 homes with 24/7 support
• Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund: 1,060 homes with 24/7 support
• Building BC: Women’s Transition Housing Fund: 679 spaces of transition, second-stage and affordable rental housing for women and children leaving violence
• Building BC: Community Housing Fund (20% of units in each project): 1,044 homes

Housing for students – 5,584 homes:

• BC Student Housing Loan Program: 2,699 on-campus student housing units are under construction, in development or in the approvals process
• 2,885 student housing units are also completed, under construction or in development through partnerships with post-secondary institutions

Total: 23,018 homes

Media Contacts:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
778 584-2433

BC Housing
media@bchousing.org