Monthly Archives: July 2018

Mayor Approves Mi Casa Redevelopment

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Mayor and Council Approve 51 New Homes for Red Door Housing Society

Mi Casa apartment rental

July 12th, 2017,  Vancouver Mayor’s Office

Mayor and Council have approved 51 new homes at Mi Casa (870 E.8th Ave), a social housing site operated by the Red Door Society. The new development, which includes a minimum 30 per cent of homes for tenants with income below $60,000, will replace the existing deteriorating 22 unit building, and deliver new affordable rental homes available on a month-to-month basis.

“Vancouver’s affordability crisis persists in affecting all incomes and neighbourhoods, but finding affordable, secure housing for residents on low and moderate incomes is particularly tough. I’m proud to support the Red Door Society in delivering sorely needed affordable housing for some of our most vulnerable residents – low income seniors and families – close to transit and community amenities in the heart of Mount Pleasant.”

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75 New Affordable Units coming to Coquitlam

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Coquitlam is B.C’s first community to receive HousingHub money to build units

April 13th, 2018

Richard Zussman, Global News

Coquitlam is set to be home to the province’s first HousingHub as the provincial government looks to partner to build 75 housing units in the community.

“Building affordable homes for middle-income people is key to tackling the housing crisis, and we have to work together to get it done,” said B.C. Premier John Horgan.

“We are taking the expertise from BC Housing and now bringing the resources as well. We will get the projects started.”

The HousingHub was a key component of the NDP government’s 30 point housing plan that was unveiled in February. It aims to bring local governments, developers and the non-profit sector together to build housing.

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$1 Billion Available Funding for Affordable Housing

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June 26th, 2018

Richard Zussman, Global News 

British Columbia has signed a deal with the federal government that will see almost $1 billion go to affordable housing across the province over the next decade.

The provincial and federal governments say more than $990 million will be spent on building, repairing and expanding social housing and supporting housing affordability.

The costs will be split between the two level of government, 50/50.

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New Definition of Affordable Housing Needed

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Housing advocate organization ACORN is pushing Toronto to redefine what is calls affordable rentals. (ACORN Canada)

July 19th, 2018

The Star Editorial Board 

What people can afford to pay for a home has nothing to do with the price of housing and everything to do with their income. When it comes to buying a house that’s something mortgage lenders know well. But when it comes to the rental housing market that’s a concept that’s harder to find.

And that’s how Toronto wound up with an affordable housing program that doesn’t actually produce much affordable rental housing. Instead, it results in housing that’s pegged to the city’s average market rents.

Certainly, that’s not bad housing and it fills a need. But it does not fill the needs of Toronto’s low-income tenants as the city is so keen to suggest it does.

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Vancouver – 6 Story Rental Project Approved

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Taking inspiration from Vienna, City of North Van council unanimously green lights 48-unit rental project with five below-market units. Graphic Supplied by City of North Vancouver

July 18th, 2018

Jeremy Shepherd, North Shore News

Shortly after discussing the role Austria’s communist party played in establishing Vienna’s stock of subsidized rental housing; City of North Vancouver council got around to the development on the table.

The project has a floor space ratio – which measures a building’s total floor space against its lot size – of 2.6, making it as dense as possible according to city guidelines. Rather than pay the city approximately $1.96 million for more than 14,000 extra square feet of floor space, the applicant offered to make the project 100 per cent rental and include five units rented at 10 per cent below market rates for at least 10 years.

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BC Budget Subsidizes Child Care Costs

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Families earning less than $45,000 a year or less will pay ‘little or nothing’ for licensed daycare

February 21st, 2018

Lori Culbert

The NDP’s first budget pledges $1 billion over the next three years to create an affordable child care system in B.C., although one without its major campaign promise of a $10-a-day rate.

Instead, it has promised a combination of two measures that will reduce child care costs for some families with kids in licensed facilities, and which will together help low-income earners the most.

According to the budget, approximately 27,000 families with annual incomes under $45,000 will eventually pay little or nothing for licensed child care.

“(The budget) makes an historical investment to take care of our children,” Finance Minister Carole James said Tuesday.

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Vancouver – New Affordable Housing Units

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Nearly 1,000 affordable units on the way for Vancouver

May 4th, 2018 

Richard Zussman, Global News

It’s being touted as the “largest one-time municipal land investment” in Canadian history. The city of Vancouver has announced the Community Land trust is going to build almost 1,000 affordable rental units on city land.

The new suites are targeted at renters who make $30,000 and $80,000 a year. There will be seven sites for development, including three downtown that will include 400 units.

“Hopefully there will be some units at welfare rates, right up to probably $1,800 to $2,000 per month for the family units,” said Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson. “With today’s announcement, Vancouver has made the single largest investment into non-market housing of any city in Canada. This is the latest step we have taken to make sure that people with low to middle incomes can find a home and build a future in our city.”

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