Flexibility in Growing Communities Fund

Whereas many smaller communities rely on not-for-profits and outside agencies to provide affordable and social purpose built rental housing; And whereas the Growing Communities Fund allows for the money to be invested in affordable housing, but requires that the controlling interest in the project must be owned by the local government providing the funding; And whereas forcing local governments to own rental housing when this is not their expertise, can create future asset management concerns, and can limit the ability to leverage the dollars and limit the ability to support local not-for-profit partnerships: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province to amend the funding requirements for the Growing Communities Fund to give local governments more autonomy and flexibility to invest the money in their local communities and to work with local partners, without requiring ownership of projects.