Last year, the B.C. government provided over $207 million to support affordable housing for approximately 27,700 low-income individuals, seniors and families in Vancouver.

New Affordable Housing

• Since 2001, close to 8,000 units of affordable housing have been developed or preserved in Vancouver.
• In November 2016, the Province announced more than $50 million in capital funding toward 11 new affordable housing projects in Vancouver that will provide about 750 units for people in need.

Homeless Supports

• Last year, the Province provided nearly $110 million to support more than 6,900 housing units for the homeless or those at risk of homelessness across Vancouver, including:
  • More than 950 permanent year-round homeless shelter spaces, over 840 of which are provided through the Emergency Shelter Program (more than 130 of these are for women only).
  • In 2015/16, the three temporary H.E.A.T homeless shelters were converted into permanent year-round shelter sites, resulting in an increase of more than 210 homeless shelter spaces within the city.
  • More than 5,200 subsidized or supportive units for homeless or at-risk individuals.
  • Approximately 750 homeless rent supplements.
• Additional temporary shelter spaces are available during extreme weather.
• Homeless outreach and shelter workers across Vancouver connect people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to housing, income assistance and a range of support services.
• The B.C. government has invested approximately $265 million in a partnership with the City of Vancouver to build nearly 1,400 new supportive housing units for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• Since 2001, the B.C. government has developed or preserved more than 4,400 units for those who are homeless or at risk of homeless in Vancouver.

Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotels

• In 2007, the B.C. government acquired 24 SRO hotels in Vancouver, 20 of which are in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) - protecting more than 1,300 affordable housing units in Vancouver.
• The Province invested $143.3 million into the SRO Renewal Initiative to renovate 13 SROs under a public-private partnership. This includes $29.1 million from the Government of Canada through the P3 Canada Fund. Lifecycle and facilities maintenance services will also be provided for these 13 SRO's for 15 years.

Support for Seniors and People with Disabilities

• The B.C. government provides support to nearly 12,000 seniors' households in Vancouver through a range of housing options, including:
  • More than 3,000 households receive Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) benefits. The program was expanded in 2006 and enhanced in 2014 to better meet the needs of low-income seniors. With the new enhanced benefit, the average monthly payment is expected to increase from approximately $150 to $175.
  • Close to 2,500 seniors live in supportive and assisted living units in Vancouver.
  • There are more than 6,400 affordable homes for independent seniors in Vancouver.
  • The Home Adaptations for Independence program offers financial assistance for home adaptations to help eligible low-income seniors and people with disabilities improve accessibility and safety in their home.
  • More than 2,660 new units of housing for seniors and people with special needs have been created in Vancouver since 2001.

Support for Families

• The B.C. government provides support to approximately 6,670 low-income families in Vancouver through:
  • More than 1,160 low-income working families receive rent assistance to keep the cost of private market rental housing affordable.
  • Over 5,450 low-income families live in subsidized housing.
  • There are 75 provincially-funded spaces available for women and women with children who are at risk of violence.
  • Approximately 900 units for families have been created in Vancouver since 2001.