By Cheryl Jahn

Premier Announced Millions In Housing Funds

Jun 18, 2018 | 11:31 AM

PRINCE GEORGE – Using the largest Native Friendship Centre in Canada as the backdrop, Premier John Horgan announced the provincial commitment of $550 million over 10 years in affordable housing through the Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund. The plan is to build 1,750 units, both on- and off-reserve First Nations, which is a significant break from the traditional formula.

“Everyone in British Columbia deserves a good home, including people who live on-reserve,” says Horgan. “That’s why we’re opening the door to all Indigenous communities to join us as we make housing better and more affordable for people in every part of the province.”

Horgan says the call for proposals will go out immediately and the hope is to have a commitment for a thousand units between now and October.

The money announced today includes every penny committed in the Province’s most recent budget. The Province says all programs announced in the provincial budget will be open to Indigenous organizations. That includes Building BC: Community Housing Fund, which is $1.9 billion over 10 years to build and operate 17,350 affordable new rental units, Building BC: Women’s Transition Housing Fund which is a $734 million over 10 years and Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund which is $1.2 billion over 10 years.