LANGFORD – The Province is partnering with the City of Langford and the District of Sooke in building 115 new, affordable rental homes to help address the housing needs of families and seniors in Greater Victoria’s Western Communities.

“Like people across the province, too many families in Langford and Sooke are struggling to find affordable homes,” said Premier John Horgan, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca. “We’re working hard to deliver more housing for people in these communities and across British Columbia, so people can stay in the places they live, work and go to school.”

In Langford, the Oak Park redevelopment is a two-phase project located close to local elementary and middle schools, as well as the municipality’s commercial centre and major transportation routes. The new homes will be at 616 Goldstream Ave., and will be operated by
Pacifica Housing with a total of 73 rental apartments, including 12 townhouses. The homes are expected to be ready for residents by the end of this year.

In Sooke, a new complex of affordable homes will include 42 affordable rental apartments, a community amenity space, a café and church annex, and will be located at 2110 and 2120 Church Rd. The Knox Vision Society will operate the new facility, which is expected to open in
early 2019.

Quotes:

Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing –
“Greater Victoria is a rapidly expanding region, and there is great need for more housing to support that growth. Our government is working to make life more affordable for people in British Columbia, and in these two growing communities that means making sure they have
access to housing that meets their needs and gives them a safe and secure place to raise their families.”

Stewart Young, mayor, City of Langford –
“Important initiatives like Pacifica Housing’s redevelopment could not happen without significant contributions from both the Province and the City of Langford. The City of Langford welcomes the additional affordable housing units at 616 Goldstream Ave.”

Maja Tait, mayor, City of Sooke –
“The District of Sooke is looking forward to this affordable housing project located within the town centre, as it will allow residents walkable access to amenities within the town core. It is a Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing priority of council to support initiatives that focus on making the town centre vibrant and accessible. Council is pleased to have been able to support this project throughout the application process continuing through to development. We are grateful for all the efforts put forward by the Knox Vision Society.”

Dean Fortin, executive director, Pacifica Housing –
“We are excited to be building more affordable family housing in Langford. It’s a part of the capital that is growing quickly, and we’re there to make sure that people who work in the community can also live in the community.”

Eleanor Shambrook, chair, Knox Vision Society –
“With the assistance of BC Housing, Knox Centre will proceed with our vision, providing affordable rental housing for our community within the town centre of Sooke.”

Quick Facts:

• The B.C. government is providing approximately $7.5 million in capital funding for the project in Langford and $5.35 million in capital funding for the new homes in Sooke.
• The approximate rental rate projected for the Langford project will be:
  • Studio: $800/month
  • 1 bedroom: $1,020/month
  • 2 bedroom: $1,200/month
  • 3 bedroom: $1,550/month
  • 4 bedroom: $1,700/month
• The approximate rental rate projected for the Sooke project will be:
  • 1 bedroom: $875/month
  • 2 bedroom: $1,100/month
  • 3 bedroom: $1,300/month
• The Province is developing a comprehensive provincial housing strategy to make housing more affordable for British Columbians.
• The B.C. government has set a target to build, in partnership, 114,000 new units of affordable housing throughout B.C.

Learn More:
To find out what the Province is doing to improve housing affordability, please visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/bc-government-addressing-housing-affordability-challenges

Contacts:

Lindsay Byers
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
250-952-0617

Rajvir Rao
BC Housing
604-456-8917