Media Contacts

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Media Relations
778 584-1255

Laura Mathews

BC Housing
604 439-8571

Backgrounders

Province building new homes to meet full spectrum of housing needs

The B.C. government is working in partnership with non-profits, municipalities, First Nations, Indigenous housing organizations and the private sector to build 114,000 affordable homes that cover the full spectrum of housing needs for British Columbians by 2028.

Budget 2018 included a $7-billion investment in the homes people need. As a result of that investment, more than 22,000 new homes are completed, under construction or in the approvals process for a range of people who are struggling to find a place to live, from people who are experiencing homelessness and seniors on fixed incomes, to middle-income families, students and individuals. As of Sept. 30, 2019, this includes:

Housing for people with middle incomes

The average annual household income qualifying for homes underway is under $99,000 per year – approximately 2,635 homes:

  • HousingHub: 2,635 homes

Housing for people with low to moderate incomes

This includes people residing in social housing (household incomes less than $65,000), as well as those living in affordable market rentals (households with annual incomes up to $74,000) – approximately 9,822 homes:

Affordable market:

  • Building BC: Community Housing Fund (30% of units in each project): 1,583 rental homes for people with low to moderate incomes
  • Affordable Rental Housing Program: 1,511 homes for people with low to moderate incomes
  • Deepening Affordability: 1,997 homes for people with low to moderate incomes
  • Regional Housing First Program: 892 homes for people with low to moderate incomes

Social housing or subsidized rents:

  • Building BC: Community Housing Fund (50% of units in each project): 2,638 rental homes for people with low incomes
  • Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund: 1,201 homes for Indigenous peoples, on- and off-reserve

Housing for people with very low incomes

Rental housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, or for people with very low incomes (includes supportive housing and shelter-rate housing) – approximately 4,340 homes:

  • Rapid Response to Homelessness: 2,064 homes with 24/7 support
  • Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund: 854 homes with 24/7 support
  • Building BC: Women’s Transition Housing Fund: 367 spaces of transition, second-stage and affordable rental housing for women and children leaving violence
  • Building BC: Community Housing Fund (20% of units in each project): 1,055 homes

Housing for students – approximately 5,600 homes:

  • BC Student Housing Loan Program: approximately 2,700 on-campus student housing units are under construction, in development or in the approvals process
  • Nearly 2,900 student housing units are also completed, under construction or in development through partnerships with post-secondary institutions

Total: approximately 22,400 homes