Housing needs highlighted at Council

Councillor Cori Ramsay also ran down a laundry list of needs as set out by the most recent Housing Needs Assessment: 2,700 affordable single family homes, more than 5,000 primary rental units, 2,500 subsidized units serving households with income less than $29,000 per year, more than 300 long-term supportive housing for seniors, plus 160 units for other needs, 131 spaces for short-term supportive housing and 72 emergency shelter spaces.

There was also discussion around what other jurisdictions are doing. Burnaby, for example, has a Memorandum of Understanding with BC Housing for seven potential sites for affordable housing and all projects require 20 percent below market rates, Summerland has reduced building permitting times significantly, and Squamish has amended its bylaw requiring supportive housing be included in multi family residential zoning.

It prompted a motion that Administration come back with a report on the City’s options to enable more creative housing.

In the meantime, Council heard that Bc Housing recently received $1.5 million dollars to move on Phase Two of the 1st Avenue project, which will be used to design that facility and move to tender. Phase Two will add another 50 units to the 50 units currently on site.

Work on Phase Two is set to begin next year.

by Cheryl Jahn

Housing needs highlighted at Council

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