People experiencing homelessness in British Columbia will have access to warm, safe indoor spaces as winter weather arrives.

The Province has granted extensions to 21 B.C. local governments to provide them more time to amend zoning bylaws and upgrade infrastructure for some, or all, of their community.

The Province is granting in-stream protections for housing projects that are underway in relation to new 2024 building code changes for adaptable dwellings, and earthquake designs.

Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing, has released the following statement about supportive housing in Richmond: 

Families and people will soon have more multi-bedroom apartment options available to them, thanks to changes to the BC Building Code (BCBC) allowing single egress stair (SES) designs in low- and mid-rise buildings.

The Province is tying the annual allowable rent increase in 2025 to inflation at 3%, down from this year’s allowable increase of 3.5%.

New shelter beds will help move more people in Victoria, including people living on Pandora Avenue, off the street and indoors with as many as 72 new shelter beds.

Victoria residents will be able to continue living in affordable homes, thanks to the Rental Protection Fund’s contribution to purchase two properties in the community.

The Province is amending the personal use-notice period for home purchasers in B.C. to three months to improve conditions for first-time homebuyers, while ensuring that tenants have more than two months notice to find new housing.