One hundred and seventy new affordable housing units in Sooke remain unoccupied despite being completed, causing frustration as the community grapples with a housing crisis.
The $5.6 million project, located at the corner of Drennan Street and Sooke Road, was originally slated for occupancy in December. However, unforeseen delays attributed to cost pressures, partially caused by rising interest rates, pushed back the move-in date, according to a spokesperson for the B.C. Housing Ministry.
The delays have been resolved, and the building’s operator, M’akola Housing Society, is working on details so that tenants can move into their new homes soon, the spokesperson explained in an email response to the Sooke News Mirror.
“We know there is is an urgent need to open these units of housing and anticipate that tenants will start to move into the building in early spring 2024,” the statement said.
Sooke Coun. Al Beddows said he heard the delays were due to financial pressures as well.
“It’s frustrating , especially during a housing crisis that it’s sitting vacant while it’s fully completed,” he said. “It’s unacceptable while we have so many people living in limbo because of this.”
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