The B.C. government has updated the Province's housing strategy, Housing Matters BC, to direct new affordable housing investments and better serve the future needs of B.C. residents.

The update builds on seven years of best practices, and establishes three priorities that will guide future investments and projects:

• Take meaningful steps to improve safety, enhance affordability and promote healthy homes and communities.
• Create greater housing stability in a manner that increases confidence for renters, landlords and strata owners.
• Develop partnerships in a manner that creates more choices and increases affordable housing options for all British Columbians.

Launched in 2006, Housing Matters BC remains the most progressive housing strategy in Canada. The strategy has guided more than $2.5 billion since 2006 for housing programs and infrastructure and it has transformed affordable housing in British Columbia. To learn more about Housing Matters BC, visit: www.housingmattersbc.ca

Quote:

Rich Coleman, Minister Responsible for Housing -

"Our refreshed strategy provides a guide for adding improved housing options for British Columbians who are most in need. We look forward to building on our successes as we continue working with our partners to create more affordable, sustainable and safer communities."

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

Sandra Steilo
Ministry of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing
250 952-0617

BACKGROUNDER

Under Housing Matters BC, the Province has:

• Reduced the number of unsheltered homeless; a 60 per cent decrease in the number of people living on the street in Vancouver between 2008 and 2012 and a 52 per cent decline across Metro Vancouver between 2008 and 2011.
• Created thousands of new affordable homes for individuals, seniors and families in need. When the strategy was launched in 2006, the target was to create 9,700 housing units between 2001 and 2011. Today, that commitment has increased to almost 21,000.
• Increased the number of low-income households we serve by 20 per cent. Today, more than 98,000 households benefit from a range of affordable housing programs.
• Transferred administration of all Aboriginal social housing, to the Aboriginal Housing Management Association.

Major Projects Currently Underway:

• Development of a uniform building code to increase consistency in technical standards and simplify code compliance.
• Enhanced licensing for residential home builders who construct buildings with one to four units.
• A $143-million capital project to renovate and restore 13 Vancouver Single Room Occupancy hotels, a vital source of affordable housing in the City. www.bchousing.org/Initiatives/Renovating/SRO
• Completing the remaining supportive housing developments for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. www.bchousing.org/Initiatives/Creating/MOU
• Developing an accessible, cost effective dispute resolution system for strata property owners. www.ag.gov.bc.ca/legislation/civil-resolution-tribunal-act

Looking Forward:

The updated provincial strategy includes new actions that will improve options for B.C. residents:

• Enhancements to rental assistance programs to better meet current and future needs of low-income families and seniors.
• Increased emphasis on partnerships to increase affordable social housing options through transfers of stock to the non-profit sector, capital funding for new projects and the redevelopment of ageing properties.
• Targeted updates to the Strata Property Act, including removing barriers to critical strata repairs and enabling redevelopment of aging strata corporations.

For more information on Housing Matters BC, visit: www.housingmattersbc.ca

Media Contact:

Sandra Steilo
Ministry of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing
250 952-0617

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect