VICTORIA – Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, has appointed three new members to the BC Housing Board of Commissioners.

Penny Gurstein, Katherine McParland and Perry Staniscia have been appointed to the board, which oversees policy implementation and provides strategic guidance to BC Housing, to help deliver on government’s plan for housing affordability and fairness.

“Our government is making life better for British Columbians by taking action to deliver on our 30-point housing plan that, at its heart, is about making sure people have homes they can afford to rent or buy,” Robinson said. “I am thrilled to welcome our new members to BC Housing’s Board of Commissioners, who bring a breadth of knowledge, expertise and passion that will help our government tackle British Columbia’s housing crisis.”

Gurstein is the director of the school of community and regional planning and the Centre for Human Settlements, and a professor at the University of British Columbia. Her current research is investigating strategies for affordable home ownership and rental housing, both in Canada and internationally. She has led a number of large research projects investigating access to housing and affordability. Gurstein is also the founding director of the Housing Research Collaborative, co-chair of the Pacific Housing Research Network and a registered planner and member of the Canadian Institute of Planners.

McParland, once homeless as a youth, is the founder and manager of A Way Home in Kamloops, which works to end youth homelessness. She also co-founded and co-chairs the BC Coalition to End Youth Homelessness. McParland is working toward her masters of social work leadership at the University of Calgary.

Staniscia was previously the general manager of strategic initiatives for the City of Coquitlam, providing leadership and strategic direction on capital construction, development projects and property management. He has also held positions at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Greater Vancouver Housing Corporation, where he oversaw property management and rental housing portfolios.

The new board members join Faye L. Wightman, Lucie Gosselin, Harvey McLeod and board chair Cassie Doyle. Melvin S. Kositsky’s term on the Board of Commissioners has come to an end.

The new board members will help position BC Housing to deliver on the Province's commitment to create housing people can afford throughout British Columbia.

Quick Facts:

• Budget 2018 launched the largest investment in housing in B.C. history — more than $7 billion over 10 years — to address housing demand, supply and security for British Columbians.
• The Province has set a target of creating 114,000 new homes, including affordable market rental, non-profit, co-op, supported social housing and owner-purchase housing through partnerships.

Learn More:
Read Homes for B.C., government's 30-point plan to address housing affordability for British Columbians online: http://bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2018/homesbc/2018_Homes_For_BC.pdf

The Homes for B.C. plan includes close to $1.9 billion over 10 years to support the construction of more than 14,000 new affordable rental homes for low- to moderate-income British Columbians: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0019-000664

For more information on how Budget 2018 supports communities in addressing B.C.'s housing needs, please see: www.bcbudget.ca

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

Rajvir Rao
BC Housing
604-456-8917