Publications


Canadian Housing Observer 2007

HAP Federal Finance Committee brief
HAP Federal Finance Committee brief


Open New Doors to Affordable Housing

Regional Housing Affordability Strategy March 2007
Regional Housing Affordability Strategy March 2007

Housing Matters BC
Housing Matters
BC

HAP Brochure
HAP Brochure

RECO Rental Report
RECO Rental Report


More
Publications


Governments



Province of British Columbia

 
The establishment of a Minister Responsible for Housing, a new "Housing Strategy", and the creation of a Premier's Task Force on Homeless all contribute in new ways. The announcement made on October 3, 2006 regarding housing allowances for low-income renters has also made a contribution.
See the website: http://www.housing.gov.bc.ca/.
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BC Housing


BC Housing partners with private and non-profit housing providers, other levels of government, health authorities and other community agencies to increase subsidized housing options for British Colombians in greatest need. The Provincal Housing Program helps funding approximately 8,000 units of non-profit and co-op housing.
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Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation


Mortgage loan insurance supports homebuyers to realize their home ownership dream.  CMHC Market reports are used by local industry, government, media, neighbourhood associations and others. CMHC. RRAP program helps rehabilitate older houses and rental buildings.  CMHC works in partnership with BC Housing on new assisted housing projects. 
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Capital Regional District

CRD contributions include reference to the importance of housing affordability in the Regional Growth Strategy, tabling of a DRAFT 'Housing Affordability Strategy’ document in June 2006, and establishment of a Regional Housing Trust Fund in 2005. back to top


City of Victoria


The Victoria Housing Trust Fund, created in October 2004, is a catalyst for other funding for affordable housing within the city.  Two projects funded in 2005 included Pacifica Housing’s Irma Street rehabilitation project, which opened at the beginning of September, 2006 and the Fernwood Resource Group’s rehabilitation of its Cornerstone Project on Fernwood Road.   As well Victoria City Council has agreed to contribute $300,000  towards  a coordinated funding strategy to fund capital projects that would house homeless youth.  The City is also proposing an expansion of its existing secondary suites policy and the establishment of a small lot house policy.
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City of Langford

In addition to previous initiatives to support affordable housing, the City of Langford adopted an Affordable Housing Policy on March 15, 2004. Given an award for Excellence in Planning, it sells affordable homes to qualified individuals for $150,000 on land acquired from developers who contribute 10% of building lots to the program.
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District of Saanich


Home to many of the social housing projects in the region, Saanich has also been early supporters of  housing innovations such as the Regional Housing Trust Fund and Habitat for Humanity homes. (The most recent multi-family ‘Bethune flex-home’ is described elsewhere under HFH and CHBA summaries.)  In 2007, Saanich through their review of their Official Community Plan, will be discussing new ways to provide local encouragements for other affordable innovations.
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Town of Sidney


The Town of Sidney acknowledges the growing problem of housing affordability throughout the region and is committed to exploring options for providing a range of housing types to fit residents' needs. Sidney was one of the first municipalities in the CRD to legalize secondary suites in single family residential dwellings, which provides much-needed rental accomodation in the area and also assists homeowners with the expenses of owning a home.

Sidney is in the process of drafting a new Official Community Plan, and the draft document includes policies supporting affordable housing. Inclusive residential development within the Town is being encouraged by the new policies, as is a bonus density for multi-family developments where affordable housing or other public amenities are being provided.

The Town is currently working with a developer and Beacon Community Services (BCS) on a housing agreement for a new 47-unit affordable housing development composed of condominiums and townhouses. It is anticipated that a portion of the units will be rented and managed by  B CS, and the remainder of the units will be purchased by elegible applicants. Some of the townhouses will contain a secondary suite which could be rented out by the homeowner, thereby increasing the flexibility of the housing to fit the owner's needs.
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District of Sooke

Sook has hired housing consultants, Don Cameron and Associates to draft a set of Affordable Housing policies and bylaws for the District of Sooke

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Associations and NGO's


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