The Cowichan Housing Association is working on its initial affordable housing program and the CVRD will review it as part of the 2019 budget deliberations.
Before they get there, the housing association and the CVRD will prepare a contribution agreement, laying out operating and reporting principles.
During the municipal election, the referendum question on the affordable housing issue passed, meaning that the CVRD would provide funds to help housing projects get off the ground.
Cowichan Housing Association board member Chris Hall says this money will help leverage funding from both provincial and federal sources.
“We anticipate that that money will help to leverage and get funds from BC Housing, which runs both the federal and provincial programs and use that money to leverage more money,” said Hall. “We’re not going to be able to do that until the CVRD is prepared to release funds. In the meantime, we’re also going to be looking for projects that meet the criteria that arise out of this attainable housing strategy.”
The attainable housing strategy identifies where the key housing needs exist, priorities for the type of housing, and what groups it should serve.
For a look at the housing association’s proposal for an affordable housing contribution service click here.
Upcoming meetings:
Thursday, November 29 – 1-5 pm at the Lake Cowichan 50+ Activity Centre, Guest Speaker: Josie Osborne
Wednesday, December 5 – 12:30-4:30 pm at the Frank Jameson Community Centre (Ladysmith), Guest Speaker: Judy Stafford
Thursday, December 6 – 12:30 – 4:30 pm at O.U.R. Ecovillage (1565 Baldy Mountain Road, Shawnigan Lake), Guest Speaker: Guy Dauncey
