VANCOUVER, BC (May 4, 2018) – The Community Land Trust (CLT) is pleased to announce it will be building more than 1,000 affordable homes in the City of Vancouver, ensuring low-income families and some of our most vulnerable residents have access to suitable housing that allows them to remain in the inclusive, livable city they call home. 

These homes will be built on seven sites in Vancouver, making it the largest one-time municipal land investment into the Community Housing Sector in Canada.

“The City of Vancouver should be congratulated for its leadership in recognizing the need for this kind of investment in the community housing sector and supporting a creative housing solution that will deliver benefits for generations to come,” said Thom Armstrong, Executive Director of the Community Land Trust and the Co-op Housing Federation of BC. 

The new homes will be a mix of two and three-bedroom townhomes, apartments and supportive housing options targeted to singles and families earning between $30,000 and $80,000 annually. They will be operated by three of the CLT’s mission-aligned non-profit housing societies to help meet the needs of families, seniors, young people, women escaping violence, those experiencing homelessness, as well as people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. 

“Today is a big day for over 2,000 Vancouver residents who want to put down roots in our city but are struggling to find long-term affordable housing,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “With today’s announcement, Vancouver has made the single largest investment into non-market housing of any city in Canada. This is the latest step we have taken to make sure that people with low to middle incomes can find a home and build a future in our city. Congratulations to Community Land Trust— we are happy to have you on board as partners in providing these new homes for people who live and work in Vancouver.”

Atira Women’s Resource Society will provide 90 new units of safe, secure, affordable and self-contained housing for women at 177 West Pender Street.

“Atira is thrilled to be part of this consortium of outstanding non-profit groups,” said Janice Abbott, CEO of Atira Women’s Resource Society. “We look forward to being able to offer some of this city’s most marginalized women the space and opportunity to heal and flourish.”

“McLaren Housing Society of BC has been providing housing and support services for families and individuals living with HIV/AIDS for over 30 years,” said Michael Hoche, President of McLaren Housing Society of BC. “We know from our experience in serving the HIV and LGBTQ community that the positive and immeasurable impacts adequate housing has on overall health and well-being not only benefits the individual but society at large. McLaren Housing Society is honoured to work with the Community Land Trust, its partners and the City of Vancouver to create 169 units of affordable housing in downtown Vancouver.”

Another 140 homes will be added to the Fraserview Housing Co-op, which already has 278 townhomes and apartments under construction in Vancouver’s River District under an earlier development agreement with the City of Vancouver.  The remainder of the portfolio will be operated by other co-op and non-profit partners to be chosen by the CLT in the coming months.

CLT was chosen as the successful proponent of a Vancouver Affordable Housing Agency (VAHA) RFP seeking a partner to develop the seven sites as affordable rental housing. Last month, Vancouver City Council approved CLT’s proposal to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the seven sites of City-owned land across Vancouver. Fraserview and non-profit operators Atira and McLaren Housing Society will work with CLT to manage the buildings once complete. 

It is anticipated the first building will break ground in mid-2019 and be complete within two years. All 1,039 new units are expected to be built and ready for occupancy in 2021.