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
Photo: Scott Daniels

Jubilee Place marks 40-year milestone in downtown Trail

Doors to Jubilee Place officially opened Oct. 20, 1982.

Photo: Scott Daniels
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)
Alex Hemingway is a Senior Economist and Public Finance Policy Analyst at the CCPA’s BC Office. (CCPA)

How a massive expansion of public rental homes in B.C. can literally pay for itself

CCPA economist Alex Hemingway says non-market rental housing is a policy option that’s achievable

  • Jun 16, 2022
Alex Hemingway is a Senior Economist and Public Finance Policy Analyst at the CCPA’s BC Office. (CCPA)
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
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
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)
Ground breaking at Habitat for Humanity project in Castlegar, April 19, 2022. (L-R) Neil Coburn, board chair Habitat for Humanity South East BC (HHSEBC); Elaine Pura, executive director HHSEBC; Castlegar Mayor Kirk Duff; Sean Thorton, HHSEBC board member. Photo: Betsy Kline

Construction begins on Habitat for Humanity fourplex in Castlegar

Applications for ownership open in May

Ground breaking at Habitat for Humanity project in Castlegar, April 19, 2022. (L-R) Neil Coburn, board chair Habitat for Humanity South East BC (HHSEBC); Elaine Pura, executive director HHSEBC; Castlegar Mayor Kirk Duff; Sean Thorton, HHSEBC board member. Photo: Betsy Kline
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
A firefighter on a ladder truck directs water on a four-alarm fire burning at a single room occupancy (SRO) hotel, in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, April 11, 2022. Vancouver’s fire chief says some people remained unaccounted for as crews fought a fire inside a four-storey residential building in the city’s Gastown neighbourhood. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Officials working to find housing for 144 people displaced by fire in Vancouver

Buildings included housing for some of the city’s lowest-income residents

A firefighter on a ladder truck directs water on a four-alarm fire burning at a single room occupancy (SRO) hotel, in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, April 11, 2022. Vancouver’s fire chief says some people remained unaccounted for as crews fought a fire inside a four-storey residential building in the city’s Gastown neighbourhood. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp says the annual pace of construction on new homes picked up in July. A worker is seen working on a construction project at UBC in Vancouver, Tuesday, April 23, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Budget 2022: Feds add measures to curb speculation as housing supply gets $10B boost

Plans rely heavily on cooperation with other levels of government and on the private sector

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp says the annual pace of construction on new homes picked up in July. A worker is seen working on a construction project at UBC in Vancouver, Tuesday, April 23, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Copies of the 2022 federal budget are seen in the media lockup, ahead of the tabling of the federal budget, in Ottawa, on Thursday, April 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Budget 2022: Liberals devote $4.3 billion to Indigenous housing needs

Budget also addresses ongoing search for unmarked graves at the former sites of residential schools

Copies of the 2022 federal budget are seen in the media lockup, ahead of the tabling of the federal budget, in Ottawa, on Thursday, April 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
A tradesperson works on a balcony at a condo tower under construction, in Burnaby, B.C., on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. The organization representing British Columbia’s municipal governments says resolving the province’s affordable housing crisis is more complex than just building more homes.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Housing minister, municipal governments at odds over B.C. housing supply report

UBCM report enough homes are being built to match the B.C. growing population raises Eby’s eyebrows

A tradesperson works on a balcony at a condo tower under construction, in Burnaby, B.C., on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. The organization representing British Columbia’s municipal governments says resolving the province’s affordable housing crisis is more complex than just building more homes.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Homelessness supports will remain for those sheltered during the pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. Budget: Renter rebate off the table, but $600 rent supplements coming for vulnerable groups

Long-awaited renters rebate left out of 2022 budget

Homelessness supports will remain for those sheltered during the pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)