NEW WESTMINSTER - New affordable townhomes for single mothers and their children are now open in New Westminster, thanks to funding from the Province and support from the City of New Westminster.

"It's wonderful to see our community coming together to make sure women and children have safe and secure homes to call their own,"said Judy Darcy, MLA for New Westminster on behalf of Selina Robinson, Minister of of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "I would like to thank everyone who made this project a reality. As a government, we are committed to working with our partners to build homes and create opportunities for women and children to thrive."

Calisto Place, located in New Westminster's Queensborough neighbourhood, is operated by Women in Need Gaining Strength (WINGS), a non-profit charitable organization providing housing, programs and support for at-risk women and children. The five-unit townhouse complex was designed for smaller single-parent families. It has play areas for children and access to parks, schools, transit and other community amenities. Each of the new townhomes includes two bedrooms, a kitchen, living and dining rooms, and a three-piece bathroom.

"Working together we are making a difference for families in our community,"said Judy Grams, board chair, WINGS. "Two years ago, the idea of building five units of affordable housing for women and children was only a dream. Now it is a reality. It has been a pleasure to join with the City of New Westminster and BC Housing on this project."

The Province provided a $600,000 grant and construction financing of $418,000 for the five townhomes. The City of New Westminster provided the land and covered municipal costs related to development and permit fees. Baptist Housing provided a $100,000 bond for the project, as well as free consulting.

"The opening of the new affordable townhouse units in our Queensborough neighbourhood is another significant accomplishment in the City of New Westminster's commitment to provide affordable housing options that meet the needs of our diverse community" said Jonathan X. Coté, mayor, City of New Westminster. "I am proud that by working in partnership with BC Housing and WINGS we have been able to provide a safe and welcoming place for single women and their children to live."

The project was completed in September 2019 and will be fully occupied by the end of the month. Rent is $900 per month for each townhome.

Delivering affordable housing is a shared priority between government and the BC Green Party caucus and is 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 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/

To learn more about WINGS and the programs it provides, visit http://monarchplace.org/

A backgrounder follows.

Contacts:

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

BC Housing
media@bchousing.org

BACKGROUNDER

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