In an effort to build more housing across the province, the B.C. government is allocating $51 million from its 2023 budget to support local housing.
More than $3 million of the monies will be going towards Okanagan communities.
鈥淭here is an urgent need for more homes for people, and we are working with local governments to build this housing faster,鈥� said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing. 鈥淲ith new housing actions to build homes in our communities, it is important that we support local governments to improve the processes to get the housing built that people in our community desperately need. By providing them with upfront funding, instead of distributing it over time, local governments will be able to support the building of more housing as quickly as possible.鈥�
Below is the list of funds Okanagan communities will receive from the new grant-based funding. The funding formula is a base of $150,000 plus $4.39 per capita based upon a population projection from B.C. Stats.
- Vernon- $354,899
- 91大黄鸭- $846,430
- Penticton- $314,454
- Enderby- $164,430
- Armstrong- $175,453
- Lake Country- $231,057
- West 91大黄鸭- $326,478
- Coldstream- $203,360
- Peachland- $177,683
- Summerland- $207,671
- Spallumcheen- $175,462
Not only will all communities be given grant funds, but local governments will also be provided with an allocation of $80,000 plus $5.80 per capita to spend on housing and housing-related costs. That includes the Regional District of North Okanagan ($203,006), Okanagan-Similkameen ($232,650) and Central Okanagan ($198,749).
鈥淚鈥檓 glad our government is providing the City of Vernon with these funds to help them update processes to align with the new legislation,鈥� said MLA for Vernon-Monashee Harwinder Sandhu. 鈥淭his is another great step we have taken to support housing initiatives in Vernon-Monashee, after building hundreds of affordable and Vernon鈥檚 first student ever housing units here.鈥�
The $51 million in funds is intended to support local governments regarding transit-oriented development and small-scale, multi-unit housing, which was legislation that was recently passed by the provincial government.
鈥淩ecognizing that local governments need immediate support to fulfil the requirements, the province is providing this funding up front to help them undertake the necessary work,鈥� a release stated. 鈥淟ocal governments can use this funding to update housing needs reports, zoning bylaws, development cost charge and amenity cost charge bylaws, and community plans by hiring consultants and staff, and to do research and community engagement, as part of the transition to improve the development approvals process.鈥�
The full list of funds being distributed can be found at
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