Ministry of Natural Gas Development and Responsible for Housing

COURTENAY - People at risk of homelessness, including those who are Aboriginal, will soon have access to more than 30 new units of affordable housing in Courtenay.

Following the September 2016 announcement of a $500-million investment in affordable rental housing, the B.C. government has approved $3 million in capital funding for a new housing project in the community.

The M’aKola Housing Society, in partnership with the Wachiay Friendship Centre, will receive the provincial funding toward a project providing 34 units at 810 Braidwood Rd.

BC Housing will work with the partners to fully develop the project plans and ensure the proper zoning and consultation is considered and confirmed before construction.

Construction is expected to begin in summer 2017, with completion projected for summer 2018.

Quotes:

Don McRae, MLA for Comox Valley -

“Everyone has a right to feel safe and secure before they go to bed at night. This project will make Courtenay a better community and more able to prevent people from falling into homelessness.”

Larry Jangula, mayor of Courtenay -

“We’ve been working very hard over the past several years to get this project off the ground, and this grant represents a giant leap forward. Our project team can now concentrate on the important work of actually building this housing and developing a safe, attractive, welcoming facility.”

Roger Kishi, Wachiay’s homelessness and housing programs director -

“Addressing the issues of homelessness and affordable housing has been a focus of the Wachiay Friendship Centre for many years. The Braidwood Project is a result of many years of work with community partners, and is an important part toward solutions for the Comox Valley.”

Quick Facts:

• Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested $4.9 billion to provide affordable housing
• More than 104,000 B.C. households benefit from a diverse range of provincial housing programs and services.
• Last year, the Province invested more than $4.7 million to provide subsidized housing and rent supplements for over 870 households in Courtenay.

Learn More:

To learn more about the Province's action on housing affordability, visit: http://housingaffordability.gov.bc.ca/

For additional background on the Braidwood housing project, visit www.courtenay.ca/braidwood

Pictured: Comox Valley MLA Don McRae, Roger Kishi from Wachiay Friendship Centre Society, Courtenay Mayor Larry Jangula, Comox Mayor Paul Ives, and Courtenay Councillors Bob Wells, Erik Eriksson, and Manno Theos at the funding announcement on November 30, 2016 at Courtenay City Hall.