Renovations are underway at Lilac Terrace, which will provide an additional 12 units of affordable housing for seniors with low-to-moderate incomes in Sparwood.

The newly expanded Lilac Terrace, located at 102 2nd Ave., will soon offer 42 units for seniors with low-to-moderate incomes. The initial 30 units were built in 2001 and were funded by the Government of B.C. The facility provides a safe environment for seniors to live independently while benefiting from meal services, community programming, and both palliative and respite care services when needed. Renovations are scheduled to be completed by early 2016.

This follows the recent addition of affordable housing for individuals and families with low-to-moderate incomes in Fernie. Funding from the governments of Canada and B.C. allowed the Elk Valley Family Society to acquire 12 two-bedroom units of affordable rental housing in the 45-unit Veneto Place development.

Quick facts:

Lilac Terrace:

• Lilac Terrace is owned and operated by the Elk Valley Seniors Housing Society.
• The governments of Canada and British Columbia will provide a combined investment of $600,000 through the Affordable Rental Housing initiative - www.bchousing.org/Initiatives/Creating/ARHi - under the Canada-B.C. Agreement for Investment in Affordable Housing 2011 www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/corp/nero/nere/2011/2011-07-04-0930.cfm - which was extended until 2019 - www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/corp/nero/nere/2014/2014-03-04-1530.cfm
• The Government of B.C. will provide construction financing of up to $400,000.
• The District of Sparwood will provide $255,907 in municipal grants, reductions, and the land valued at $33,400.
• Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) will contribute $500,000 and the Elk Valley Seniors Housing Society has committed approximately $2.3 million in the form of equity.

Veneto Place:

• The governments of Canada and British Columbia provided joint funding of $558,000 through the Affordable Rental Housing Initiative to Veneto Place, located at 1002, 1042 and 1092 1st Ave. in Fernie.
• The Government of B.C. provided long-term financing of over $1.1 million, and CBT provided $558,000.

Quotes:

David Wilks, Member of Parliament for Kootenay - Columbia, on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development) -

“Access to affordable, quality housing is very important, not only here in B.C. but across Canada. Our government is proud to invest in projects that provide low-to-moderate income seniors, individuals, and families with a stable and affordable place to live. This is great news for Sparwood and Fernie.”

Bill Bennett, MLA for Kootenay East, Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review -

“We are constantly looking at ways to increase the housing options available to seniors in our community. Continuing our partnership with the Elk Valley Seniors Housing Society will help increase capacity, expand services and provide a welcoming environment for residents.”

Mayor Cal McDougall, District of Sparwood -

“More and more seniors every year are choosing to remain in Elkford and Sparwood after they retire to enjoy this beautiful town and active community. This new trend has left little time for the local housing industry to evolve a full range of housing options for seniors. This worthwhile project is exactly the kind of solution this community needs. It’s more than just a simple renovation; we are helping to build communities here.”

Neil Muth, president and chief executive officer, Columbia Basin Trust -

“The Elk Valley Seniors Housing Society identified an opportunity to improve the lives of local seniors, and we’re pleased we were able to partner with the federal and provincial governments to help them take action. The Trust is committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen the well-being of our communities, and this affordable housing project provides a solid example.”

Robert Burritt, president, Elk Valley Seniors Housing Society -

“The society is proud of the difference that Lilac Terrace is making in the lives of our seniors and is proud of the place that it has in our community. We are very fortunate to be able to provide even more housing and services to our seniors with these additional units.”

Associated links:

Annually, the Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), will invest approximately $2 billion in housing. These investments improve the quality of life for low-income Canadians and households living in existing social housing, including individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal people. Economic Action Plan 2013 continued this commitment with a federal investment of more than $1.25 billion over five years to renew the Investment in Affordable Housing to 2019. The Government of Canada will ensure that funds provided to provinces and territories support the use of apprentices, which will support training of skilled labour. To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC help Canadians meet their housing needs, call CMHC at 1 800 668-2642 or visit: www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested $4 billion to provide affordable housing for low-income individuals, seniors, and families. This year, nearly 100,000 B.C. households will benefit from provincial social housing programs and services. To find out more, go to: www.bchousing.org

Columbia Basin Trust delivers economic, social, and environmental benefits to the residents of the Columbia Basin. To learn more about Columbia Basin Trust programs and initiatives, visit: www.cbt.org

The Elk Valley Seniors Housing Society is a registered charity and non-profit housing provider. Their mission is to provide affordable supportive housing while striving to preserve and enhance the well-being, dignity, independence, and quality of life for seniors in the community. For more information, please see: www.lilacterrace.net

Stay connected:

• Follow CMHC on Twitter @CMHC_ca (twitter.com)
• Follow BC Housing on Twitter @BC_Housing (twitter.com)
• Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

Media Contacts:

Jeanette Wilkinson
CMHC
604 737-4025

Elaine McKay
BC Housing
778 452-6476

Rachel Lucas
Columbia Basin Trust
250 426-1103