ELKFORD,
BC, April 30, 2024 /CNW/ - Seniors and people
living with disabilities in Elkford will soon have access to 25 new
affordable rental homes with construction underway on a new housing
development.
Located at 214 Alpine Way, the four-storey building will provide
25 one-bedroom units. All the units will either be accessible or
adaptable to accommodate current and changing accessibility needs.
The project will also include ground-mounted solar panels to help
produce additional power for the building.
The site is located within one kilometre of all essential
services and the downtown core including a grocery store, pharmacy,
park, library and the Elkford Medical Centre.
The project is the result of a partnership between the federal
and provincial governments, the Regional District of East Kootenay,
the District of Elkford, Columbia
Basin Trust, Teck Coal Limited (Teck), and Elkford Housing Society,
which will operate the building.
Construction of the building is expected to be complete in
2025.
Funding provided for this project is as follows:
- $12.6 million from the federal
government, through the Affordable Housing Fund
- $975,000 contribution of joint
funding through the Canada –
British Columbia Bilateral Agreement under the National Housing
Strategy.
- Approximately $2.8 million from
the Province, through BC Housing, from the Building BC: Community
Housing Fund and approximately $640,000 in annual operating funding
- Approximately $670,000 from the
Columbia Basin Trust
- Approximately $500,000 from the
Regional District of East Kootenay
- Approximately $200,000 from the
District of Elkford
- $1 million as well as an in-kind
land donation valued at approximately $400,000 from Teck Coal Limited.
Quotes:
"This project is going to help get homes built for seniors in
Elkford that they can afford and
create options for those with disabilities so they can live in the
community they call home– The Honourable Sean Fraser,
Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
"These accessible and adaptable homes will allow seniors and
people living with disabilities to live comfortably and
independently, close to friends and family," said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing. "Through our
Homes for People action plan, we're delivering thousands of homes
across the province that meet the diverse needs of renters, and
more are on the way." – The Honourable Ravi Kahlon,
Minister of Housing, Province of British
Columbia
"These homes will make a huge difference in the lives of seniors
and people living with disabilities who want to live independently,
near amenities that support their health and wellbeing. I'm proud
to be part of a government that's prioritizing their needs while
addressing a housing crisis that we know disproportionately affects
them." – Harwinder
Sandhu, Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors' Services and
Long-Term Care
"These new units will provide secure, affordable and accessible
places to call home for seniors and people living with disabilities
in Elkford. As ground breaks on
this exciting project, I want to thank all of our partners for
their dedication and collaboration, and for continuing to invest in
rural communities across British
Columbia." – Brittny
Anderson, Member of the Legislative Assembly for
Nelson-Creston
"After years of planning by the Elkford Housing Society, we're
thrilled to see this project underway! The District strongly
supports purpose-built, affordable rental housing and housing for
seniors in our community; and this project is a prime example of
the development we're hoping to see in our growing downtown area."
– Steve Fairbairn, Mayor, District of Elkford
"We recognize the importance of creating safe and comfortable
spaces for our seniors to call home while enjoying all the benefits
that come with staying in their community. We are proud to be a
funding partner on this initiative and to see construction underway
on this vibrant, accessible housing project in Elkford." – Thomas
McDonald, Electoral Area A Director, Regional District of
East Kootenay
"The Elkford Housing Society is very excited about our
partnership with BC Housing, CMHC, Columbia Basin Trust, District
of Elkford, Regional District of
East Kootenay and Teck to provide 25 units of barrier free housing
for seniors and people with disabilities in Elkford. The society is pleased that this
housing will allow seniors and people living with disabilities to
remain in Elkford as they age."
– Kim Bauer, Vice President,
Elkford Housing Society
"Access to affordable rental housing is a pressing issue, which
is why the Trust has prioritized supporting communities, like
Elkford, to create housing that
meets their needs. We're excited to support construction-related
training opportunities and see high-speed fibre installed in the 25
finished units. Congratulations to the Elkford Housing Society and
to all the partners for their commitment to making this project a
reality." – Johnny
Strilaeff, President and CEO, Columbia Basin Trust
""Teck is proud to have contributed funding and land towards the
construction of the Elkford
seniors housing project. We are committed to working with project
partners and stakeholders alike to help support much needed rental
units for residents to continue living in Elkford, a place many call home."
– Robin Sheremeta,
president, Teck
Quick facts:
- Canada's National
Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10-year, $82-plus billion plan that will give more
Canadians a place to call home.
- NHS is built on strong partnerships between the federal,
provincial, and territorial governments, and continuous engagement
with others, including municipalities, Indigenous governments and
organizations, and the social and private housing sectors. This
includes consultations with Canadians from all walks of life, and
people with lived experience of housing need.
- All NHS investments delivered by the federal, provincial,
and territorial governments will respect the key principles of NHS
that support partnerships, people, and communities.
- The Affordable Housing Fund (previously the
National Housing Co-Investment Fund) is a $13.2 billion program under the National Housing
Strategy (NHS) that gives priority to projects that help people who
need it most, including women and children fleeing family violence,
seniors, Indigenous peoples, people living with disabilities, those
with mental health or addiction issues, veterans, and young
adults.
- This project is part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C.
government. Since 2017, the Province has nearly 78,000 new homes
that have been delivered or are underway, including more than 700
affordable homes in the Kootenay region.
Additional Information:
- Visit Canada.ca/housing for the most requested Government
of Canada housing
information.
- CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and
financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need,
and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of
Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim
is that everyone in Canada has a
home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more
information, follow us
on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.
- To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, please
visit www.placetocallhome.ca.
- To learn about B.C.'s new Homes for People action plan,
visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HOUS0019-000436
- To learn about the steps the Province is taking to tackle the
housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for
British Columbians, visit:
https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/housing/
SOURCE Government of Canada