KAMLOOPS - Seniors will soon have more affordable homes to choose from in Kamloops as construction gets underway on a 37-unit rental housing project in the community.

"Everyone deserves the security and peace of mind that comes with having an affordable home, close to friends and loved ones," said Selina Robinson, Minister for Municipal Affairs and Housing. "Together with our community partners, we are working to make sure people in Kamloops - from young families to seniors - have a good, safe home they can afford."

The Province is partnering with the City of Kamloops and ASK Wellness Society to build the new homes at 1260 Hillside Ct. The four-storey building will provide one-bedroom units for seniors. Monthly rents are projected to range from $375 to $825.

"We are pleased to see more affordable housing on the horizon for seniors in our community," said Ken Christian, mayor, City of Kamloops. "Housing is a key area of focus for our council and we continue to work with our partners to improve diversity and access throughout the housing continuum."

ASK Wellness Society will own and operate the project, which will be named Cookies Place. The homes will be co-located with an existing development operated by the society, Maverick Manor.

"Cookies Place represents part of ASK's developing continuum of housing in the Southern Interior of B.C.," said Bob Hughes, CEO, ASK Wellness Society. "Our philosophy of providing programming and housing that allows people to move from streets to homes to health to employment promotes the opportunity for people to regain their health, and to access employment and education opportunities. It's what Cookie Reimer, one of the founding organizers of ASK Wellness, always has believed in. These new homes for individuals and couples 55 and over will complement the supportive homes at the Maverick Manor that offers life-skills, employment placements and recovery services."

The Province is providing $3.9 million from the Building BC: Community Housing Fund, as well as annual operating funding, for the project. The society provided the land valued at $817,000. The City of Kamloops is providing $130,000 in municipal waivers.

Residents are expected to move into the building in fall 2021.

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

Quick Facts:

• Including these homes, the Province has over 1,000 homes completed or underway in Kamloops:
  • 290 homes for low to moderate income earners
  • 155 homes for people experiencing homelessness
  • 44 homes for women and their children leaving violence
  • 533 student housing beds

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

For more information on how BC Housing is supporting British Columbians during the COVID-19 outbreak, visit: https://www.bchousing.org/COVID-19

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 backgrounder follows.

Contacts:
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Media Relations
778 584-2155

BC Housing
Media Relations
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