Ninety new rental townhomes are under construction in Abbotsford, providing more housing options for families.

“New affordable homes are desperately needed for people like teachers, nurses and small business owners,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "We are helping build safe, secure homes, so families don’t have to choose between leaving their community or having an affordable place to live.”

Located at 2841 Livingstone Ave., Gardner Living 1 will provide two- and three-bedroom rental homes for households with annual incomes ranging between approximately $80,000 and $96,000. Monthly rents will range between $2,020 and $2,390. The townhomes will add family housing to a community facing low vacancy rates.

The Province is providing $27.9 million in low-cost construction financing, which will reduce the cost of the project. Those savings will be passed on to the people who live there through lower monthly rental rates. The funding is through a BC Housing program called the HousingHub, 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 homeownership options for middle-income British Columbians.

“Gardner Living in Abbotsford is one of three affordable rental projects Mosaic currently has in development and construction, adding to our portfolio of rental homes under Mosaic ownership and management,” said Geoff Duyker, senior vice-president, Mosaic Homes. “Mosaic is proud to be working with BC Housing, landowners and local municipalities to build more rental housing for the region. We are actively seeking out additional opportunities to address the need for more rental homes for British Columbians.”

Construction started in November 2019. The project is expected to be completed by January 2022.

“We’re pleased that the Province continues to address rental housing within the City of Abbotsford, given that access to housing is critical for all demographics,” said Henry Braun, mayor, City of Abbotsford. “Abbotsford has one of the lowest vacancy rates in the country, and this project is one piece in addressing housing needs for middle-income earners.”

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:

• Through provincial investments, more than 22,000 new homes are complete, under construction or in development for people with a range of incomes around 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 rental 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: 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:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Media Relations
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