VICTORIA – The Capital Regional District (CRD) is asking local municipal and electoral area staff to identify appropriately zoned land or properties that meet the criteria for funding under the Government of Canada’s Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI). The RHI was announced October 27 and $13.1 million is allocated to the CRD to help house people experiencing homelessness in the region.
Colin Plant is Board Chair of CRD
“This funding is an amazing opportunity to create at least 52 units of new permanent housing,” said CRD Board Chair Colin Plant. “It is important that potential land be identified quickly so we can meet the funding requirements and proceed with the development and implementation of projects.”
A letter to local area administrators on October 30 requests they identify appropriately zoned land that could be contributed or is for sale, or to identify existing properties that are for sale, that could be used in a regional effort to develop more affordable and supportive housing projects.
The CRD must develop and submit an Investment Plan to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) by November 27, 2020 outlining the capital projects that will be built as part of the program.
The funding can be used for the following purposes:
- acquisition of land and the construction of affordable multi-residential modular housing units;
- acquisition of land and buildings for the purpose of conversion of non-residential into affordable multi-residential housing units; and
- acquisition of land and buildings in disrepair or abandoned for the rehabilitation into affordable multi-residential housing units.
CRD staff have also engaged BC Housing to explore the potential to leverage the funding with other provincial programs.
Once approved, the CRD will have only 12 months to complete and have projects occupied with qualified tenants. Should the CRD not achieve the agreed upon building completion or occupancy targets, CMHC may request that unused funds be returned.
The CRD is committed to working with partners and other levels of government to leverage resources in order to create more housing directed toward improving the quality of life of vulnerable people experiencing or at acute risk of experiencing homelessness.
