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

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

The B.C. Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) has taken urgent action to protect the interests of tenants and landlords of approximately 350 properties in B.C. by freezing the bank accounts and suspending the licence of Vancouver-based rental property brokerage firm Rent it Furnished Realty.

Twenty-eight new transitional homes with supports will soon be available for people leaving the correctional system as construction gets underway on a mixed-use building in Victoria.

Thirty-eight local governments will soon receive a grant to create more efficient development approvals processes. 

As part of the Province’s commitment to build more homes for people, the next set of priority communities has been identified to receive housing targets for the next five years.

The Province has updated the Provincial Policy Manual: Transit-Oriented Areas (TOA manual) to ensure local governments are supported in delivering the housing and amenities people need in areas near transit hubs.

The Province is supporting local governments to build more housing for people faster with funding to help them meet new provincial legislative requirements.