236 new on-reserve rental homes will soon be available to First Nations Elders, families and seniors throughout British Columbia.
Sixteen of those are currently being built in Saanichton.
The announcement was made Friday (April 4) morning at a groundbreaking ceremony hosted by Tsawout First Nation next to a multiplex construction site on Tetayut Road.
Saanich South MLA Lana Popham, Chief Abraham Pelkey, Tsawout council member John Wilson, Cowichan Tribes selected councillor Calvin Swustus Sr. and other community members attended the event.
"We're proud to be building homes again," said Tsawout Chief Abraham Pelkey. "Our members will soon be living peacefully and comfortably in new homes designed to meet their needs.”
Tsawout First Nation will see 16 new homes rise at 7593 Tetayut Rd., providing a variety of one-, two- and three-bedroom options.
These new homes are a result of a partnership between the Province, through BC Builds at BC Housing and three First Nations communities, designed to expedite the construction of much-needed rental housing on reserve lands.
The housing projects also include 200 homes for Cowichan Tribes at 222 Cowichan Way, featuring one- and two-bedroom units.
"These new homes at the edge of the Quw'utsun Sta'lo' (Cowichan River), which has sustained our people physically and spiritually for millennia, will transform the lives of our people," said Chief Sulsulxumaat Cindy Daniels of Cowichan Tribes.
Lake Babine Nation at Tachet and Wit'at will see a 20-home multi-unit project offering a mix of two- and four-bedroom homes.
Each development will be owned and operated by its respective First Nation, reflecting the unique housing strategy of each community and ensuring rents remain affordable for Nation members.
The projects are partially funded through the BC Builds program, launched in February 2024, which aims to increase housing options for middle-income earners.
Priority will be given to First Nations members with middle incomes, enabling them to remain in their communities and contribute to local services.
“It is vital that Indigenous people in the province continue to have access to housing where they feel culturally safe and supported,” said Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing and municipal Affairs.
These initiatives are part of a broader $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government.
