crd.bc.ca
VICTORIA– Families and single people with mixed incomes will benefit from 282 new affordable housing units now renting in the communities of View Royal and Langford as part of the Regional Housing First Program (RHFP). Properties funded by the RHFP provide a mix of rental options, including units for people who can live independently with supports.
Colin Plant
“This is an extraordinary occasion where we can have a considerable impact on housing affordability and availability,” said Colin Plant, CRD Board Chair. “It has taken immense efforts on the part of the CRD, the CRHC and our partners to move quickly enough to build the kinds of housing options our community needs. Opening two buildings at the same time underscores that housing need.”
West Park, located by Thetis Lake in View Royal, consists of two six-storey rental buildings at 1910 and 1920 West Park Lane. The property has 152 units, including 20 accessible units and 34 units renting at the current provincial income assistance shelter rate ($375/month).
Spencer Close in Langford consists of a single six-storey rental building at 2763 Spencer Rd. The property has 130 units, including 13 accessible units and 26 units renting at the current provincial income assistance shelter rate ($375/month).
Mayor Stew Young
“As the fastest growing municipality in BC, Langford has played a large role in accommodating housing growth out to the Westshore. Langford is giving families and singles across the income spectrum a community to call home and to build a future in,” said Stew Young, Mayor of the City of Langford.
Residents began moving into both buildings on December 1 under the management of the Capital Region Housing Corporation (CRHC). Tenancy applications for the affordable units are currently being accepted.
The Regional Housing First Program is an equal partnership agreement between the CRD, the BC Government through BC Housing, and the federal government though the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The equal partnership will see a direct investment of $120M to construct up to 2000 units of affordable housing as part of the $600M program. The program was initiated to create more affordable rental housing including 400 units renting at the current provincial income assistance shelter rate to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness in the capital region.
The Regional Housing First Program currently includes nine projects, which have created, or are in the process of creating, 960 units:
Langford – 3 projects (Millstream Ridge, Hockley, Spencer) 382 units
View Royal – 1 project (West Park) 152 units
Salt Spring Island – 1 project (Croftonbrook) 56 units
Sooke – 2 projects (Drennan and Charters) 245 units
Victoria – 2 projects (Cedar Grove, Michigan) 125 units
With RHFP contributions of $10.2 million for West Park and $7.8 million for Spencer Close, combined with the other seven projects, the total committed RHFP contribution is $66.7 million of the $120 million total.
The Capital Region Housing Corporation will operate West Park and Spencer Close. Tenancy applications are currently being accepted. Rental information on both projects can be found at www.capitalregionhousing.ca.
