Seniors on fixed incomes and people with disabilities will soon have rental security through a redevelopment project that will bring new, affordable homes to the community.

“Communities are healthy when everyone can afford the kind of homes they need, and this is what our Community Housing Fund is designed to do by building housing for people with a range of incomes,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “This new apartment will help give seniors and people with disabilities peace of mind knowing that their housing is stable and they can make rent each month.”

The new building will be located at 5803 Medusa St. and will replace two of the aging buildings in the current complex. The new five-storey building will add 104 new rental units to the Greenecourt complex.

“Our government is working hard to make housing more affordable," said Nicholas Simons, MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast. “With these affordable rentals, we are providing homes for people who have been squeezed out of a tight rental market, helping them maintain their connection to their community and to their loved ones.”

Each floor will feature a laundry room and amenity room for residents. The underground garage will accommodate scooters and bicycles.

“This project is an enormous benefit to our seniors, providing much-needed affordable housing in an excellent location near our shops and recreational amenities,” said Darnelda Siegers, mayor, District of Sechelt.

The Sunshine Coast Lions Housing Society will own and operate the building. The Greenecourt complex provides independent living and affordable rental housing for seniors 55 years and older, and for adults of any age with disabilities.

“I would like to say how extremely pleased we are with this funding announcement,” said Robert Allen, president, Sunshine Coast Lions Housing Society. “The Sunshine Coast Lions Housing Society would not be able to serve the affordable housing needs of the local community through the Greenecourt complex without the generous funding and operating assistance of BC Housing and the Province of British Columbia, together with the support of the District of Sechelt.”

Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2019.

Quick Facts:

• The Sunshine Coast Lions Housing Society is receiving $10.4 million from the Province’s Building BC: Community Housing Fund to build the new homes.
• The housing project is part of the first series of projects selected to receive funding through the Building BC: Community Housing Fund, a $1.9-billion investment over 10 years to build more than 14,000 affordable rental homes for seniors, families and low- and middle-income earners.
• Projects built under the Community Housing Fund will reflect the following mix of incomes:
  • 30% of the units will be for households with moderate incomes.
  • 50% of the units will be for a range of low- to moderate-income households.
  • 20% of the units will be for households with low incomes.
• The Community Housing Fund was launched in Budget 2018 as part of the Province’s 30-point housing plan. The plan outlines the largest investment in affordable housing in B.C.’s history — $7 billion over 10 years. Through this investment, the Province is working in partnership to create 114,000 new, affordable homes for people with low and middle incomes.

Learn More:

Read Homes for B.C., government’s 30-point plan to address housing affordability for British Columbians: bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2018/homesbc/2018_Homes_For_BC.pdf

Information about the Building BC: Community Housing Fund and a map of approved projects are online: http://www.bchousing.org/CHF