By Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Grace Lore
Access to affordable, attainable housing is so important for our community and we know far too many people struggle to find the housing that they need.
This year, our government took bold and significant steps to support the protection and creation of more housing of all types in our community. Legislative changes will make it easier to build more housing that families and communities need, where they need it – including near transit.
We know that more homes near transit is action on affordability - reducing costs for families – and on climate action – opening up alternative transportation options and reducing reliance on cars. These changes are backed by $400 million in Budget 2023 to allow government to purchase land and build affordable homes near transit hubs.
The changes we made this fall will support work already underway to deliver homes in our community. In Victoria and across the South Island affordable rentals are open or under construction. The Dalmatian and Chown Place opened earlier this year to provide mixed affordable housing and Crosstown, the Caledonia, and Michigan Square are under development and will soon deliver hundreds more.
But we know we can’t just build our way out of the challenges that many in our community face – we need to protect existing affordable housing. Early in the year, the Rental Protection Fund was announced – half a billion in funding to support not-for-profits to acquire affordable rental housing. We’re helping not-for-profit housing providers purchase housing rather than private companies to ensure that they continue to be affordable for people in our community.
We also need to ensure that the housing that is out there is used first and foremost for homes.
Starting May 2024, short-term rentals outside primary residences in urban areas will be banned, ending their use in hundreds of units in Victoria. The legislation also increases fines, enforces mandatory registration, and establishes a compliance and enforcement unit. Also, early next year, the speculation and vacancy tax will be expanded to thirteen new municipalities – we cannot afford to have homes sitting empty while people, including those with good-paying jobs – aren’t able to find somewhere to live.
These steps are going to make a big difference - economic analysis shows that the legislative changes we made could deliver around 250,000 additional new homes in the next 10 years, helping to stabilize rents.
We also know that, for some people in our community, housing alone is not enough.
Permanent homes with the supports people need is an essential part of building housing for our city and region.
Over the last year, hundreds of units of purpose-designed supportive housing have been under construction on the South Island.
Supportive housing for youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness opened in November on Meares Street and earlier in the year Kwum Kwum Lelum (House of Courage) opened in Vic West, providing 45 supportive homes for Indigenous peoples.
Here a dual model of housing care provides culturally supportive housing alongside decolonized harm reduction. Services and supports focus on strengthening Indigenous self-identity and building community while supporting healing and recovery. In the new year, more supportive housing will open on Balmoral, providing more much needed supportive units.
Across the housing spectrum – from supportive housing to attainable homeownership opportunities - we are using all the tools available to us to deliver what British Columbians need. This is work I am committed to as local MLA and that remains a central priority for our Premier, David Eby.
Feel free to connect with my office about housing or any other issue that matters to you at Grace.Lore.MLA@leg.bc.ca or give us a ring at 250-952-4211.
