Whereas the lack of affordable housing and co-operative housing in resource based communities is having a detrimental effect on the local economies and the quality of life for many British Columbians; And whereasaffordable housing and co-operative housing are essential to support vibrant and healthy communities, attract and retain skilled workers to our communities and affects the footprints into resource based communities: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocate to the provincial government to increase the number of new affordable housing units and new co-operative housing units constructed in British Columbia and allocate funding for all communities to plan in advance of funding announcements.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Government is committed to increasing the number of affordable housing units and new co-operative housing units. Building the homes people need and can afford in the communities where they work and contribute is a top priority for the Province. With Budget 2018, the Province made a more than 7-billion investment in affordable housing over 10 years through the Homes for BC: 30-Point-Plan for Housing Affordability. This includes a directly funded commitment to build 33,700 new units of housing through capital investments and partnerships. Budget 2018 actions are now being implemented through funding streams and programming. This includes the new Building BC Housing Community, Supportive, Indigenous and Womens Transition Housing Funds in which project proposals are being accepted and reviewed. Approved projects for the Community, Indigenous and Womens Transition Housing Funds were announced in FallWinter 20182019. The Supportive Housing Fund projects are expected to be announced in 2019. The new HousingHub division at BC Housing, created through Budget 2018, is facilitating partnerships with local governments, the non-profit and private sectors, Indigenous Peoples, faith and community groups to build new affordable housing units including those in housing co-operatives. The Province also allocated 5-million for local government housing needs assessments to help plan and better align available funding with each communitys needs and capacity.