VICTORIA, BC: The federal government has allocated $11.3 million to support the creation of 45 new affordable homes for individuals and families in the Capital Regional District through the Cities Stream under expanded Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI).
Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, along with and Colin Plant, Chair of the Capital Regional District, announced the details of the allocation at an event in Victoria.
Grace Lore, MLA for VictoriaBeacon Hill, was also on-hand to announce B.C. government support this project with $5.7 million through the Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund along with annual operating subsidies.
By continuing to make investments in affordable housing, the federal and B.C.governments are building stronger communities, creating jobs, and growing our middle class, while fighting homelessness and helping vulnerable Canadians, an official statement said.
Located at 865 Catherine St. in Victoria, these new homes will support Indigenous Peoples in the region, who are experiencing homelessness, and will be operated by the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society.
This four-storey modular housing project will provide residents with 24/7 culturally-appropriate supports. This project is expected to be completed in Spring 2022. This is in addition to the Government of Canada’s previous investment of $13.1 million through the first phase of the RHI to support the creation of 91 housing units in the CRD.
In its initial round, with funding of $1 billion announced in October 2020, the RHI exceeded its original target of 3,000 permanent affordable housing units and achieved 4,700 units nationally.
Due to this success, an additional $1.5 billion for the RHI was recently announced to create 4,500 new units of permanent affordable housing across the country. Thanks to this expansion, this initiative will now create over 9,200 affordable homes for the most vulnerable Canadians across the country.
Minister Hussen said: “Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. This funding through the Rapid Housing Initiative will go a long way to support those who need it most by quickly providing 45 new affordable homes for Indigenous populations of the Capital Regional District, to keep them safe.”
Grace Lore said: “Our government is working quickly with our partners to make sure people in need have access to permanent homes with supports in the Capital region, as part of our 10- year plan to build the homes that people need in every corner of the province. I look forward to seeing the significant difference I know these homes will have on the lives of the Indigenous peoples that will call this building home.”
Lisa Helps, Mayor of Victoria added: “The pandemic has laid bare the many gaps in our social fabric for those on the margins, particularly when it comes to housing.
“Only through true collaboration at every level of government can we make meaningful impacts to close those gaps. This project shows what we can achieve when we work together.”
Colin Plant, Chair of the Capital Regional District, said: “The CRD works collaboratively with our municipal, federal and provincial partners to build safe, vibrant and accessible communities. We are committed to working with the community and government partners to leverage resources in order to create more housing to improve the quality of life of people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness.”