The BC government is committing to build more than 49-hundred new, affordable, mixed income homes across the province. It's part of a $1.9-billion investment over the next decade.
BC's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Selina Robinson, says more than a quarter of those new units, almost 13-hundred -- will be built on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
" On Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands we've identified 20 projects. We put out an RFP last spring and we identified 20 projects that were ready to go. That's 1274 homes for people who have a variety of incomes. They might have very low incomes, they might be on assistance, or they'll have low incomes to low to moderate incomes."
Robinson says low to moderate incomes might include tourism and service sector, with moderate incomes including teachers or first responders looking for affordable places to live.
Robinson says in some cases local government brought something to the table, such as land or fees associated with building a new rental building. And experienced housing groups are also involved:
" In every single case we have a non-profit or co-op that we are partnering with ads well because they have the capacity to deliver this kind of housing. They have experience as landlords in this context. And it will make sure that these homes are perpetually affordable."
Most of the homes on Vancouver Island will be built in Greater Victoria -- with 588 units slated for Victoria, 161 in Esquimalt, 85 for Saanich, and 80 in Langford.