VICTORIA, BC, July 29,
2024 /CNW/ - Today, the federal government announced
more than $145 million in
contributions and low-cost loans through the Affordable Housing
Fund (AHF) to help build and repair more than 2,600 affordable
homes on Vancouver Island and across British Columbia.
The announcement was made by the Honourable Harjit Sajjan,
Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the
Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada – on behalf of the Honourable Sean
Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities –
alongside, Peter Parker, Chairman
Dawson Heights Housing Ltd, and Karen
Hope, Executive Directory, Dawson Heights Housing Ltd.
It took place at the Woodlands at Dawson Heights, at 3700 Cedar
Hill Road, which received $4.25
million to build 85 homes and will be operated by Dawson
Heights Housing Society. The building will have one- and
two-bedroom suites for seniors over 55 on fixed, moderate-, and
low-incomes, and is conveniently located near grocery stores,
parks, pharmacies, and other amenities.
This new development replaces Dawson
Height's former cottages, which were located on the current
site, and is the third and final development for the Dawson Heights
Campus. The building will be constructed with accessibility in the
design. Construction is scheduled for completion in late 2024.
A detailed list of all the projects that received funding is
provided in an appendix to this release.
Quotes:
"Everyone deserves a place to call their own and the Affordable
Housing Fund is one way we're helping make that a reality for
Canadians. We will keep investing in affordable housing projects
like the ones announced today, and working with partners across the
country, to end the housing crisis." – The Honourable Sean
Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and
Communities
"We need innovative solutions and quick action to fix the
housing crisis. Through the Affordable Housing Fund, we are
building and repairing over 2,677 homes on Vancouver Island and
across British Columbia. By
working with our communities, we are investing $145 million to
support those who need social and affordable housing the most."
– The Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Minister of
Emergency Preparedness, and Minister Responsible for
PacifiCan
Quick facts:
- The federal funding announced today is helping create a total
of 1,082 new homes and is leading to the repairs of 1,579
homes.
- The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) provides funding
through low-interest and/or forgivable loans or contributions to
help build new affordable homes and renovate and repair existing,
affordable and community housing.
- Through the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, the government
announced an additional $1 billion
for the Affordable Housing Fund, bringing the total funding to over
$14 billion. To further support
non-profit, co-operative, and public housing providers and respond
to the needs of those most impacted by the housing crisis, Budget
2024 committed an additional $1
billion to the fund.
- This program under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) gives
priority to projects that help people who need it most, including
women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous
peoples, people living with disabilities, those with mental health
or addiction issues, veterans, and young adults.
- As of March 2024, the federal
government has committed $50.97
billion through the NHS to support the creation of over
146,000 units and the repair of over 286,000 units.
- To support the Government's work to grow housing supply and
address the need for more affordable and rental homes, CMHC is
implementing the Frequent Builder framework.
- The Frequent Builder framework will help expedite applications
for the Affordable Housing Fund and the Apartment Construction Loan
Program. The Frequent Builder status is given to existing
housing providers with a proven track record of building
multi-residential units. Different criteria apply to Governments,
non-profit and for-profit organizations to qualify for Frequent
Builder status.
- Frequent Builders may receive benefits such as priority
treatment, a streamlined process through intake, underwriting and
approval stages, underwriting and advancing flexibilities, as well
as the possibility of funding commitments for future years which
will allow funding predictability and better planning for their
pipeline of projects.
Additional Information:
- Visit Canada.ca/housing for the most requested Government of
Canada housing information.
- CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and
financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need,
and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of
Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim
is that everyone in Canada has a
home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more
information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and
Facebook.
- To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, please
visit www.placetocallhome.ca.
Appendix: Projects receiving funding under AHF
Project
Name
|
Region/City
|
Funding
|
Units
|
The Victoria Cool Aid
Society - Repairs
|
Victoria
|
$2,680,000
|
268
|
The Residences at
Qualicum Station
|
Qualicum
Beach
|
$12,239,874
|
56
|
856 Nigel
Avenue
|
Saanich
|
$5,250,000
|
70
|
Stage Two
Housing-Victoria
|
Victoria
|
$525,000
|
7
|
Cypress
Gardens
|
Comox
|
$3,791,000
|
52
|
The Woodlands at Dawson
Heights
|
Victoria
|
$4,250,000
|
85
|
Timberline at North
Park
|
Port Alberni
|
$33,584,422
|
102
|
Maitland Street Family
Housing
|
Port Alberni
|
$1,980,000
|
46
|
Rainbow Gardens
Seniors' Apartment
|
Port Alberni
|
$1,000,000
|
48
|
3130 Jutland
Road
|
Victoria
|
$6,600,000
|
88
|
Tyee Urgent
Repairs
|
Victoria
|
$15,500,000
|
75
|
314 Buller Street -
Affordable Housing Project
|
Ladysmith
|
$1,767,348
|
36
|
Chown Pl Seniors
Housing
|
Victoria
|
$1,455,576
|
58
|
Sharp Road
|
Tofino
|
$4,302,209
|
14
|
Quadra Island Seniors
Housing Project
|
Quadra
Island
|
$465,000
|
16
|
Sunset View
Apartments
|
Powell River
|
$9,098,982
|
34
|
Okanagan Indian Band
Community Housing Fund
|
Vernon
|
$3,599,766
|
16
|
Housing
Repairs
|
Quesnel
|
$105,000
|
7
|
Yale First Nation
Repairs
|
Hope
|
$300,000
|
20
|
Prophet River First
Nation Repairs
|
Fort Nelson
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Leqamel First Nation
Repairs
|
Holachten
|
$165,000
|
11
|
Shelter
|
Merritt
|
$137,168
|
15
|
Glen Vowell
Repairs
|
Sik-e-dakh
|
$105,000
|
7
|
Taku River Tlingit
First Nation Repairs
|
Stikine
Region
|
$300,000
|
20
|
Ulkatcho
Repairs
|
Ulkatcho
|
$47,315
|
8
|
Safe and Healthy Home
for Tsleil-Waututh Nation
|
North
Vancouver
|
$180,000
|
12
|
Daylu Dena Council
Repairs
|
Lower Post
|
$165,000
|
11
|
Lower Nicola Indian
Band Repairs
|
Nicola
Mameet
|
$180,000
|
12
|
Osoyoos Indian Band
Repairs
|
Osoyoos
|
$300,000
|
20
|
Blueberry River First
Nations Repairs
|
Blueberry
River
|
$300,000
|
20
|
Lil'wat Nation Rental
Housing Building Envelope Renovation
|
Mount Currie
|
$200,000
|
20
|
Fort Nelson First
Nation Repairs
|
Fort Nelson
|
$465,000
|
11
|
Shelter
|
Kamloops
|
$200,000
|
15
|
Nisga'a Lisims
Government Repairs
|
Nisga'a
|
$885,000
|
59
|
Tzeachten First Nation
Repairs
|
Tzeachten
|
$294,000
|
21
|
Neskonlith Indian Band
Repairs
|
Neskonlith
|
$225,000
|
15
|
Shelter
|
Lillooet
|
$264,000
|
15
|
West Moberly First
Nations repairs
|
West Moberly
Lake
|
$315,000
|
21
|
Lax Kw'alaams WAAP
Housing Society
|
Prince
Rupert
|
$6,200,625
|
70
|
Gitwangak
Repairs
|
Gitwangak
|
$808,496
|
57
|
Seabird Island Band
Repairs
|
Kent
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Coldwater
Repairs
|
Merritt
|
$113,460
|
20
|
AQAM Repairs
|
Cranbrook
|
$165,000
|
11
|
Tahltan
Repairs
|
Telegraph
Creek
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Upper Similkameen
Repairs
|
Chuchuwayha
|
$60,000
|
4
|
Xaxli'p
Repairs
|
Fountain
|
$30,000
|
2
|
Ulkatcho First Nations
Repairs
|
Squinas
|
$10,080
|
8
|
Nuxalk Nation
repairs
|
Bella Coola
|
$120,000
|
8
|
Doig River First Nation
Repairs
|
Doig River
|
$24,135
|
4
|
Tsawout First Nation
repairs
|
Saanich
|
$14,057
|
1
|
Gwa'Sala-Nakwaxda'xw
Repairs
|
Tsulquate
|
$4,856
|
1
|
T'Sou-ke First Nation
Community Housing: Essential Repairs and Renovations"
|
T'Sou-ke
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Squamish Nation
Repairs
|
North
Vancouver
|
$480,000
|
66
|
Lhoosk'uz Dene Nation
Repairs
|
Kluskus
|
$60,000
|
4
|
Campbell River
Repairs
|
Campbell
River
|
$8,362
|
3
|
Ts'uubaa-asatx First
Nation Repairs
|
Cowichan
Lake
|
$90,000
|
6
|
Skowkale First Nation
Repairs
|
Skowkale
|
$42,460
|
3
|
Binche Whut'en
Repairs
|
Binche
|
$22,556
|
2
|
Shackan Indian Band
Repairs
|
Shackan
|
$37,810
|
3
|
Old Massett Village
Council Repairs
|
Masset
|
$86,436
|
8
|
Cheam First Nation
Repairs
|
Cheam
|
$195,000
|
13
|
Skwlax te
Secwepemculecw - Repairs
|
Columbia-Shuswap
|
$210,000
|
14
|
Tk'emlups te Secwepemc
Repairs
|
Thompson-Nicola
|
$109,821
|
22
|
Sumas First Nation
Repairs
|
Abbotsford
|
$153,850
|
20
|
Sts'ailes
Repairs
|
Fraser
Valley
|
$26,819
|
20
|
Shxwhá:y Village
Repair
|
Skway
|
$7,584
|
8
|
Nazko First Nation
Repairs
|
Nazco
|
$15,880
|
2
|
Nanoose First Nation
Repairs and Renovations
|
Lantzville
|
$47,544
|
17
|
Lhtako Dene Nation
Repairs
|
Quesnel
|
$177,042
|
28
|
Okanagan Indian Band
Repairs
|
Vernon
|
$240,000
|
16
|
Soowahlie
Repairs
|
Soowahlie
|
$225,000
|
15
|
Sq'éwlets
Repairs
|
Squawkum
Creek
|
$242,200
|
18
|
Bridge River
Repairs
|
Bridge River
|
$300,000
|
20
|
Kitasoo Xai'xais Nation
Housing Renovation Project
|
Kitasoo
|
$495,000
|
33
|
Saulteau First Nations
Repair
|
Chetwynd
|
$367,330
|
28
|
Tsawwassen First Nation
Repairs
|
Delta
|
$435,000
|
29
|
Tla'amin Nation
Repairs
|
Powell
|
$262,900
|
32
|
Cook's Ferry Indian
Band repairs
|
Kamloops
|
$750,000
|
50
|
Ucluelet First Nation
Repairs
|
Nanaimo
|
$660,000
|
44
|
Shuswap Band
Repairs
|
Invermere
|
$150,000
|
15
|
Kitselas Community
Housing
|
Kitselas
|
$3,000,000
|
40
|
1919 17th
Avenue
|
Prince
George
|
$2,850,000
|
164
|
Móytel Lalém
|
New
Westminster
|
$9,200,000
|
96
|
Stz'uminus First Nation
Repairs
|
Chemainus
|
$450,000
|
30
|
Pacheedaht First Nation
Repairs
|
Juan de Fuca
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Skidegate
Repairs
|
Skidegate
|
$150,000
|
10
|
Ehattesaht
Renovations
|
Ehatis
|
$15,000
|
1
|
Heiltsuk First Nation
Repairs and Improvements
|
Bella Bella
|
$1,500,000
|
100
|
Cowichan Tribes
Repairs
|
Duncan
|
$750,000
|
50
|
TOTAL
|
|
$145,335,963
|
2,677
|
SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)