WHEREAS the provision of and access to affordable housing is vital to support the health and well-being of individuals, as well as the sustainability of vibrant and diverse communities; AND WHEREAS the changes in senior government funding and the withdrawal of federal funding for new social housing developments has placed constraints on the construction of new affordable housing units, combined with demand pressures on the existing stock of adequate affordable housing, and ongoing tight rental market conditions has meant that there are nearly 133,100 British Columbians who rent and who are in core housing need; AND WHEREAS leadership, sustained funding, and strong partnerships are required to increase the supply and diversity of affordable housing across British Columbia: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM urge the provincial government and federal government to work with community partners to develop a National Affordable Housing Strategy which includes provisions that respond to the specific needs of British Columbians, and which provides the necessary long-term funding to support the construction of the full range of affordable housing choices needed in communities across the province; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the UBCM urge the provincial government to continue to show leadership on this issue through the provision of on-going funding to meet the housing needs in communities across the province as well as in ensuring that adequate housing and supports are in place to better meet the needs of those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Ministry of Housing Social Development On December 4, 2009, Federal Provincial Territorial FPT ministers responsible for housing and homelessness met in Ottawa to discuss progress on joint efforts to improve housing for vulnerable Canadians. This was the first meeting of FPT ministers responsible for housing since September 2005. Ministers agreed to continue their collaboration, ongoing dialogue and making improvements on their joint investments in housing and homelessness initiatives, including funding for the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program RRAP, the Homelessness Partnering Strategy HPS and the Affordable Housing Initiative AHI through to 2014. The Province remains interested in developing a bilateral agreement with the federal government for the delivery of HPS and AHI from 2011 to 2014. Bilateral agreements with the federal government allow the Province to align federal funding with provincial priorities. The next meeting of FPT Ministers Responsible for Housing is being planned to continue the dialogue on housing needs of vulnerable Canadians in the fall of 2010 in Calgary. Guided by Housing Matters BC A Housing Strategy for British Columbia October 2006, the provincial government is committed to a leadership role and to continuing to work with other partners to meet housing needs in British Columbia. We are active in a number of areas: Memoranda of Understanding - Memoranda of Understanding between the Province and several local governments are expediting municipal approvals for approximately 1,900 supportive housing units on 30 sites in eight municipalities: Abbotsford, Campbell River, Kelowna, Maple Ridge, Nanaimo, Surrey, Vancouver and Victoria. Construction is now underway on ten of the sites. Affordable Private Market Rental: - The Rental Assistance Program helps approximately 8,000 low-income working families with direct monthly cash assistance to help pay the rent, with an average payment of about 350 per family each month. This is up from 4,300 families in 2007. In the 200809 provincial budget, the maximum income ceiling was raised from 28,000 to 35,000 to increase the number of eligible families. - Seniors receive rent assistance through the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters SAFER program. More than 15,800 seniors households receive an average monthly payment of approximately 152. That is 3,600 more households since 2001. - The Seniors Rental Housing initiative provides 123 million in cost-matched funds to create up to 1,000 affordable rental housing units by end of 201112. The initiative is targeted to seniors and persons with disabilities primarily in small communities. Subsidized Housing: - Since 2001, the Province has created 14,239 new units of subsidized housing and continues to facilitate an increased supply of subsidized housing options. This includes a commitment to more than 4,000 new and upgraded supportive housing units and shelter beds under the Provincial Homelessness Initiative, through the Premiers Task Force on Homelessness, Mental Illness and Addictions. - Through the Aboriginal Housing Initiative the Province has committed more than 50 million to create 220 safe, secure and culturally appropriate housing units for youth, women, elders, and people with alcohol and drug addictions. - Seniors in existing social housing have more opportunities to live independently, through the Seniors Supportive Housing program. Approximately 790 social housing units are being converted and upgraded with enhanced accessibility, improved safety systems and day-to-day assistance. - To help seniors who need help to continue to live independently, the Province has created more than 4,000 assisted living apartments through the Independent Living BC program. Annual funding of 31 million subsidizes the housing component and some hospitality services while Health Authorities fund personal care services. Single Room Occupancy and Affordable Housing Purchases: - The Province purchased 26 Single Room Occupancy hotels in Vancouver, New Westminster and Victoria totalling 1,560 rooms, helping to preserve this important affordable housing stock for those who need it most, with funding of approximately 92 million. - The Province is spending approximately 57 million to renovate them this year, and non-profit operators will provide support services to help people break the cycle of homelessness. - The Province has also preserved additional affordable housing stock with purchases of apartment buildings and townhouses in Kamloops, Burnaby, Victoria, Surrey, Quesnel, Port Alberni, Prince George, Penticton, Williams Lake, Mission, Logan Lake, Nanaimo, Abbotsford and Osoyoos totalling nearly 41 million for 610 housing units. - In total, the Province invested nearly 133 million to purchase 47 buildings, protecting and upgrading 2,150 units of existing affordable housing, most of which faced conversion into more expensive forms of housing. Emergency Shelter Program: - Compared to the 850 beds available under the Emergency Shelter Program in 2001, the program now provides more than 1,500 permanent, year-round beds in 63 shelters across the province of which 88 per cent of the permanent beds are available 247 and 95 per cent provide three meals a day. - Since April 2009, the Emergency Shelter Program has helped more than 3,400 people find permanent housing. Homeless Outreach Programs: - The Homeless Outreach Program and Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program operate in 49 communities across the province and help connect homeless people with housing and support services. - Since April 2009, the outreach programs have housed over 8,700 people as a result of the outreach work. - The Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program has been established in eight communities, to better connect homeless Aboriginal people with appropriate housing, supports and services. Homelessness Intervention Project - Launched on March 2, 2009, the Homelessness Intervention Project HIP operates in Victoria, Vancouver, Surrey, Kelowna and Prince George. The project enables communities to help the most difficult to house: chronically homeless people who have suffered long term homelessness and struggle with mental illness or addiction problems. - HIP improves timely access to housing and provides more comprehensive supports for chronically homeless clients through better coordination of provincial government ministries, BC Housing, health authorities and working more closely on the ground with communities and community based service providers. - As of May, over 2,700 homeless persons have been housed across the five communities and 87 per cent remain housed.