To increase the supply of affordable housing on Galiano Island, the Capital Regional District (CRD) has announced the purchase of a property earmarked for a 20-unit affordable rental housing complex.
The property was purchased for $672,000 and the development, called Thuthiqut HulelumB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� or Forest Homes B次元官网网址� will cost $14 million, the regional district announced on Monday, July 8. They have committeed $2 million in funding.
Justine Stark, the CRDB次元官网网址檚 manager of service delivery for the Southern Gulf Islands, hopes to garner federal funding for the project.
B次元官网网址淲e have [funding] applications out there, and if weB次元官网网址檙e successful, IB次元官网网址檓 optimistic that weB次元官网网址檒l be able to get shovels in the ground at start of next spring,B次元官网网址� said Stark.
This development will help address what Stark described as an acute housing crisis on Galiano, where most of the 1,500 residents live in single-family homes.
B次元官网网址淔or folks who are suffering from a lack of housing, there is very, very little stock of rental housing and an especially low amount ... of small units,B次元官网网址� she said, adding that renters are often priced out of the housing market while median income earners canB次元官网网址檛 afford to purchase property.
Without a sufficient stock of rental housing, Stark thinks the island may struggle to retain early childhood educators, teachers, doctors and mental health professionals. However, once the Forest Homes development is complete, the availability of housing available to Galiano renters will skyrocket, Stark said.
B次元官网网址淭wenty units of housing has a really big impact on a small community. Building 20 units on Galiano would have the same impact on a population basis as building 4,000 units in Greater Victoria.B次元官网网址�
Paul Brent, electoral area director for the Southern Gulf Islands, said the purchase of this property marks a significant step forward in addressing the need for rental housing.
B次元官网网址淲e are committed to creating inclusive, sustainable communities, and the Thuthiqut HulelumB次元官网网址� Housing Project stands as a beacon of hope for low to moderate income individuals and families seeking a place to call home," said Brent.
