MISSION – Close to 70 new affordable homes are now available for low- to middle-income families and individuals as a new rental apartment building has opened in Mission.

“The old government chose to ignore the housing crisis, leaving people in Mission and across the province without the safe and affordable homes they deserve,” said Bob D’Eith, MLA for Maple Ridge-Mission. "We are building new partnerships to create new homes like these so that people can afford to stay in their community.”

Located at 7251 Cedar Valley Connector, Cedar Valley Suites provides 68 rental homes, including 53 market rental homes that will be affordable for households with annual incomes ranging between approximately $52,000 and $66,000. Fifteen homes will be for people with low incomes, including seniors on fixed incomes. Monthly rents will range between $375 and $1,323. The building will add much-needed rental supply to a community facing low vacancy rates.

Cedar Valley Suites was purchased by the Lookout Housing and Health Society in September 2019 with support from a BC Housing program called the HousingHub, which was created by the Province in 2018. The HousingHub works with community, government and non-profit and private-sector stakeholders to help create new affordable rental housing and home-ownership options for middle-income British Columbians.

“Lookout is pleased to partner with BC Housing to provide 68 units of mixed-income rental housing in the District of Mission,” said Shayne Williams, CEO, Lookout Housing and Health Society. “The unit mix of one bedroom, one bedroom plus den and two-bedroom homes provides safe, affordable homes for fixed income seniors, single moms and low- to middle-income earners. The many community members who call Mission home are facing a severe rental housing shortage with less than 0.2% vacancy rates. Cedar Valley Suites provides much-needed assistance to this housing shortage.”

The society will manage day-to-day operations of the building. The first residents have started to move into their new homes.

“Mission is very pleased to have BC Housing partner with Lookout Society and invest in much-needed affordable housing in our community,” said Pam Alexis, mayor, District of Mission. “We are grateful for the support of Minister Robinson and MLA D’Eith, and look forward to more of these collaborative housing projects being developed in Mission over the next few years.”

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:

• The Province, through the HousingHub, provided approximately $19 million through a combination of financing ($12,200,000) and grant dollars from the Federal Bilateral BC Priorities Housing Initiative ($6,800,000) to the society for acquisition of the building.
• Through provincial investments, more than 22,000 new homes are complete, under construction or in development for people with a range of incomes throughout the province.
• The Province is working in partnership to increase the supply of affordable rental housing throughout the Fraser Valley. More than 670 homes are completed or underway in the region, including:
  • Community Housing Fund: 74 mixed-income homes
  • Indigenous Housing Fund: 45 homes for Indigenous peoples
  • Women’s Transition Housing Fund: 34 homes for women and children leaving violence
  • Rapid Response to Homelessness program: 175 homes for people experiencing homelessness
  • Deepening Affordability Fund: 60 homes

Learn More:

HousingHub: https://www.bchousing.org/partner-services/housinghub

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

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

A backgrounder follows.

Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
778 584-2433

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