Whereas there is a housing crisis throughout BC requiring a range of solutions that address housing affordability issues in large and small communities; And whereas the Provinces Homes for Peoples plan focuses on addressing housing supply issues in larger communities in high growth areas of the province: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province to engage with small and northern communities to identify housing solutions outside of high growth areas.
Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs The Province is committed to supporting local governments in their efforts to bring affordable housing to small, rural, and remote communities and address their long-term housing needs. Rural communities are eligible to apply for support developing new affordable housing units through a range of BC Housing programs, including BC Builds, the Community Housing Fund, and the Indigenous Housing Fund. As part of the Homes for People plan, the Province passed a suite of legislation in fall 2023 that changed the local government land use planning framework to enable local governments to deliver more homes for people, faster, in every part of BC. Informed by consultation with a wide range of interested parties, including representatives from rural, small, and northern local governments, the legislation is structured to help address housing supply challenges in communities of all sizes. For example, the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing framework requires local governments to allow secondary suites or detached accessory dwelling units in all single-detached and duplex residential zones across BC, from large cities to small communities. This will help unlock opportunities to add housing in smaller and more remote communities. The accompanying guidance includes specific recommended provincial site standards recommended zoning bylaw regulations for lands within regional district electoral areas or small communities municipalities with populations less than 5,000 that are not within urban containment boundaries. Recent funding programs, including the Growing Communities Fund and the Local Government Housing Initiatives Capacity Fund, have also supported every local government in BC in preparing for increased density and upgrading key infrastructure in their communities. Additionally, through the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program, the Province is supporting projects in rural communities that promote economic diversification, resilience, clean growth opportunities, and infrastructure development including workforce housing.