Housing

Policies recommended include investments in public housing, mandatory inclusionary zoning and tying rent increases to units rather than individual tenancies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

British Columbians support progressive housing policies to combat affordability crisis: poll

The soaring cost of housing is the single biggest component of the affordability crisis in B.C.

 

Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister Murray Rankin, photographed during a funding announcement at the legislature in June 14, is the new acting attorney general and housing minister. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C.’s Indigenous relations minister ‘honoured’ to assume attorney general role

Murray Rankin also adds housing responsibilities, has short-term goals for temporary role

 

A California school district is hoping to attract more teachers by providing them with affordable housing. (Associated Press/screenshot)

VIDEO: California school district builds affordable housing to attract teachers

Rising rent, teacher shortages piquing districts’ interest in workforce housing

 

A person walks by a row of houses in Toronto on Tuesday July 12, 2022. Multigenerations living under one roof is becoming increasingly common, Statistics Canada’s latest tranche of census data revealed Wednesday.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Roommates, multi-generational homes rising amid increasing costs, immigration: census

Number of homes being shared grew by 45 per cent over the last 20 years

A person walks by a row of houses in Toronto on Tuesday July 12, 2022. Multigenerations living under one roof is becoming increasingly common, Statistics Canada’s latest tranche of census data revealed Wednesday.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
Construction on the second phase of the Sohkeyah development, in Newton, has started. Phase 2 of the housing project will provide 104 new affordable rental homes for Indigenous individuals, families and Elders. (Image: Province of B.C.)

Construction begins on 2nd phase of Indigenous housing development in Surrey

73 homes were completed in 2019 at the Sohkeyah development

Construction on the second phase of the Sohkeyah development, in Newton, has started. Phase 2 of the housing project will provide 104 new affordable rental homes for Indigenous individuals, families and Elders. (Image: Province of B.C.)
Houses are seen on Squamish Nation land in North Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) says residential mortgage debt grew by nine per cent last year compared with a year earlier for the fastest pace of growth since 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

CMHC says residential mortgage debt grew last year by fastest pace since 2008

Mortgage debt grew by 9 per cent last year, topped 10 per cent in the early months of this year

Houses are seen on Squamish Nation land in North Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) says residential mortgage debt grew by nine per cent last year compared with a year earlier for the fastest pace of growth since 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - A seaplane passes the downtown skyline while on approach to land on the harbour in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver drops below Toronto as most expensive Canadian city in 2022 world rankings

Vancouver 108th most expensive in the world, according to international survey

FILE - A seaplane passes the downtown skyline while on approach to land on the harbour in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The rapid pace of growth in B.C. urban centres like Langford, seen here in 2021 along the Peatt Road corridor, has prompted B.C.’s Urban Mayors Caucus to ask the federal government to consider releasing funds sooner that target projects that improve housing affordability and transportation. (Google Street View)

B.C. urban mayors ask feds to expand housing affordability, transportation funding

Caucus co-chair Lisa Helps of Victoria outlines list of B.C. requests in letter

The rapid pace of growth in B.C. urban centres like Langford, seen here in 2021 along the Peatt Road corridor, has prompted B.C.’s Urban Mayors Caucus to ask the federal government to consider releasing funds sooner that target projects that improve housing affordability and transportation. (Google Street View)
BM Group chairman Balraj Mann and Delta Mayor George Harvie take in a model of Walker House, a 29-storey mixed-use development being built at Scott Road and 93A Avenue in North Delta, during the grand opening of the project’s sales centre on Friday, June 3, 2022. (James Smith photo)

Delta residents to get first glimpse of new Scott Road highrise

29-storey Walker House to see 264 market units, 50 rental units and 30-child daycare space

BM Group chairman Balraj Mann and Delta Mayor George Harvie take in a model of Walker House, a 29-storey mixed-use development being built at Scott Road and 93A Avenue in North Delta, during the grand opening of the project’s sales centre on Friday, June 3, 2022. (James Smith photo)
Signage promoting inclusivity in housing was removed from property at 151 Street and 20 Avenue last year after Surrey council rejected the Harmony Apartments proposal. (Doug Tennant twitter photo)

South Surrey project rejection revisited in Business Excellence Awards speech

CEO Doug Tennant accepts best non-profit honours on behalf of UNITI

Signage promoting inclusivity in housing was removed from property at 151 Street and 20 Avenue last year after Surrey council rejected the Harmony Apartments proposal. (Doug Tennant twitter photo)
Less than one percent of houses listed in B.C. cities as of the first week of May 2022 are priced below $200,000, according to real estate search portal Point2. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Needle in a haystack: Less than 1% of homes in B.C. cities listed below $200,000

Zero homes under $200,000 exist in nine B.C. cities, international real estate portal finds

Less than one percent of houses listed in B.C. cities as of the first week of May 2022 are priced below $200,000, according to real estate search portal Point2. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Diana Brum outside the manufactured home she shares with two daughters at Newton’s Crispen Bays park. “It’s so very sad that the only form of actual (home) ownership is now being taken away from us,” Brum says. (Photo: Tom Zillich)

COSTLY LIVING: Housing headaches for residents forced out of Surrey manufactured home parks

‘It’s super affordable living here, and we don’t want to leave, but we’ll have to’

Diana Brum outside the manufactured home she shares with two daughters at Newton’s Crispen Bays park. “It’s so very sad that the only form of actual (home) ownership is now being taken away from us,” Brum says. (Photo: Tom Zillich)
(John Morrow/Abbotsford News) An artist’s rendering of new student housing to be built at UFV in Abbotsford by 2024. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)

New $70-million student housing project to add almost 400 beds to UFV in Abbotsford

Largest funding announcement in UFV history will triple the number of student beds on campus

(John Morrow/Abbotsford News) An artist’s rendering of new student housing to be built at UFV in Abbotsford by 2024. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)
Frank Bucholtz

AND FRANKLY: Security, size, design, amenities drive millennials to home ownership

Recent census figures show that “family-friendly” housing is attracting more residents to…

  • May 5, 2022
Frank Bucholtz
Homes are pictured in Vancouver, Tuesday, April 16, 2019. Councillors in Vancouver have unanimously backed a motion from Mayor Kennedy Stewart to hike the city’s empty homes tax to five per cent of a property’s assessed value, effective next year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Vancouver council hiking empty homes tax to 5 per cent of assessed value in 2023

City hiking empty homes tax to five per cent of a property’s assessed value, effective next year

Homes are pictured in Vancouver, Tuesday, April 16, 2019. Councillors in Vancouver have unanimously backed a motion from Mayor Kennedy Stewart to hike the city’s empty homes tax to five per cent of a property’s assessed value, effective next year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Mike Armstrong addresses White Rock council in 2012 about making the city more dog-friendly. This week, he and his wife were ordered by a BC Supreme Court judge to pay $52,500 in commission on properties that were listed for sale but never sold. (File photo)

White Rock couple ordered to pay $52,500 commission – despite failed sale of Mission-area properties

Judgment against Mike and Jessica Armstrong made April 25

Mike Armstrong addresses White Rock council in 2012 about making the city more dog-friendly. This week, he and his wife were ordered by a BC Supreme Court judge to pay $52,500 in commission on properties that were listed for sale but never sold. (File photo)
A tradesperson stands atop a condo tower under construction, in Burnaby, B.C., on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Census shows apartment growth, but supply remains the main issue in B.C.: experts

Apartments in buildings with 5 or more storeys, make up 10.9 per cent of all dwellings in B.C.

A tradesperson stands atop a condo tower under construction, in Burnaby, B.C., on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Cat rescue organizations are “drowning in cats” that have been surrendered by owners because they can’t find pet-friendly housing, said Christy Moschopedis of FCM Community Cat Trappers. (Darren McDonald)

Fraser Valley rescue organizations ‘drowning in cats’ due to lack of pet-friendly housing

Nearly 80% of cats in 4 Chilliwack shelters are owner surrenders, says cat rescuer

Cat rescue organizations are “drowning in cats” that have been surrendered by owners because they can’t find pet-friendly housing, said Christy Moschopedis of FCM Community Cat Trappers. (Darren McDonald)
A new complex-care and supportive housing building in Green Timbers was unveiled April 21, 2022 at 9810 Foxglove Dr. in Surrey. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

Surrey supportive housing project featuring 130 units unveiled in Green Timbers

It has 130 units that include 66 supportive housing homes, 34 complex care beds and 30 shelter beds

A new complex-care and supportive housing building in Green Timbers was unveiled April 21, 2022 at 9810 Foxglove Dr. in Surrey. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
Nearly 8,500 homes were declared vacant or underused in Vancouver after the submission deadline passed for the debut of the city’s empty homes tax. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver mayor aims to increase empty homes tax to fund affordable housing

Decision to triple the empty homes tax rate in 2020 has brought in about $32 million

Nearly 8,500 homes were declared vacant or underused in Vancouver after the submission deadline passed for the debut of the city’s empty homes tax. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck