News releases

VANCOUVER – The Province is working with the cities of Vancouver and Victoria to transition people living in encampments in Oppenheimer Park, Topaz Park and on Pandora Avenue into safe, temporary accommodations with wraparound supports to protect their health and safety in the overlapping COVID-19 and overdose crises.

SQUAMISH – The Government of B.C. is partnering with the District of Squamish and Squamish Helping Hands Society to provide 49 new temporary homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the community.

VICTORIA – Renters who are experiencing a loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic can now apply for the Province’s new temporary rental supplement.

Mitzi Dean, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity, has issued the following statement about the Province’s support for women and children experiencing violence during the COVID-19 pandemic:

VICTORIA − To support British Columbians who need a place to self-isolate and to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Province is partnering with local governments, non-profits and the hotel industry.

As British Columbians work to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Province is taking swift action to protect vulnerable people, including those experiencing homelessness, in communities around BC. Details on many of these items were announced last week:https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020MAH0013-000536.

The BC Temporary Rental Supplement (BC-TRS) program ended on August 31, 2020

VANCOUVER – Close to 60 new supportive homes with around-the-clock supports are opening in Vancouver, as a result of a partnership between the Government of B.C., the City of Vancouver and the Government of Canada.

VANVOUVER - As British Columbians work to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, the Province is taking swift action to protect vulnerable people, including those experiencing homelessness, in communities around British Columbia.

BC Housing is working with the Province of BC, BC's health authorities, the BC Centre for Disease Control, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and other partners to monitor COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Below are steps that have are being taken to mitigate and prepare for potential impacts.

KELOWNA - People experiencing homelessness in Kelowna will soon have a place to call their own as new permanent supportive homes with around-the clock care and supports open in the community.

VANCOUVER - The Government of B.C. is partnering with the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society (VAFCS) and the City of Vancouver on a proposal to provide more than 160 new affordable homes and 80 shelter spaces for people and families in downtown Vancouver.

TRAIL - Construction is underway on nine new affordable rental homes for families and seniors in Trail through a partnership between the Government of B.C., the Columbia Basin Trust and the Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society.

New Aiyansh, B.C. – The Nisg̱a’a Nation has entered into a memorandum of understanding with BC Housing to collaborate on the development of a residential asset management framework. NLG Chief Executive Officer Collier Azak and the Chief Administrative Officers for the Nisg̱a’a Villages of New Aiyansh, Gitwinksihlkw, Lax̱g̱alts’ap and Ging̱olx each executed the MOU that is intended to build capacity in the administration of housing and develop and share best practices in residential asset management.

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Resource Society has partnered with the Province, through BC Housing, to purchase four senior housing facilities in Surrey, Kelowna and Nanaimo, preserving a total of 475 residential suites at affordable rental rates.

WEST VANCOUVER – The Province is partnering with Baptist Housing and Vancouver Coastal Health on a proposal to redevelop Inglewood Care Centre, which is aging and in need of extensive renovations.

VICTORIA – BC Housing has released theAffordable Housing Investment Plan Report – Second Quarter 2019/20,a report prepared for the Board of Commissioners on the organization’s progress delivering new affordable homes for British Columbians.

COURTENAY - Over 50 middle-income families in Courtenay will soon have access to new, affordable rental homes in their community, as construction gets underway on a new building.

WESTBANK – Construction will soon begin on two housing projects that will provide 17 affordable on-nation rental homes for Members in Westbank through a partnership between the Province and Westbank First Nation (WFN).

KIMBERLEY - Low-income families in Kimberley now have access to 12 new affordable homes as a result of a partnership between the Province, the Government of Canada, the Columbia Basin Trust and the Kimberley Seniors Project Society.

KELOWNA - The Province is delivering close to 250 new affordable rental homes for people in the Kelowna region.

KAMLOOPS - A new supportive housing building is open in Kamloops, providing safe, warm homes with around-the-clock care and supports to help people experiencing homelessness in the community.

CRESTON- People living with disabilities now have access to nine new affordable rental homes in Creston, thanks to a partnership between the Province, the Columbia Basin Trust and the Kootenay Region Association for Community Living (KRACL).

NEW WESTMINSTER - New affordable townhomes for single mothers and their children are now open in New Westminster, thanks to funding from the Province and support from the City of New Westminster.

VANCOUVER - Seniors in Vancouver now have access to 139 new affordable rental homes that will allow them to live independently and stay connected to their community with the opening of the Vivian Apartments redevelopment.

WEST KELOWNA - Forty new safe, warm beds are now available for people experiencing homelessness in West Kelowna this winter through a partnership between BC Housing, the city and the West Kelowna Shelter Society.

PRINCE GEORGE - The Province is partnering with the Aboriginal Housing Society of Prince George to purchase a six-unit apartment complex, preserving rental housing and providing affordable options for Indigenous peoples in the community.

VANCOUVER - A new affordable rental housing project for seniors and families on Southwest Marine Drive is part of the 3,500 new homes underway or completed in Vancouver, thanks to partnerships between the Province, the City of Vancouver and community partners.

NANAIMO – Twenty-seven new affordable homes are now available for moderate- to middle-income families and individuals with the opening of a new rental apartment building in Nanaimo.

100 MILE HOUSE - The Province is buying a 33-unit apartment building in 100 Mile House to preserve rental housing and provide affordable options for people in the community.