Skip to content

Province announces new Aboriginal affordable housing projects

Most number of units to go to Surrey, Langford, Abbotsford.
web1_170405-BPD-M-Construction
(Wikimedia Commons)

The provincial government announced, on Wednesday, 378 new affordable aboriginal housing units will be built across B.C.

Peter Fassbender, the Minister for Community, Sport and Cultural Development, spoke at the Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre in Surrey, stating the plan will be to construct eight new housing developments with a price tag of $53 million for the projects.

However, this funding is not new but part of the $355 million that was announced in February of last year when the province pledged funds for 2,000 units of affordable housing.

The eight projects include more than 100 units to be built in Surrey, 15 units for aboriginal women and children through the Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver, and 106 units through the Kekinow Native Housing Society, totalling $10.7 million.

Other projects include a 30-unit project in Kamloops, a 40-unit project in Fort St. John and a 60-unit project in Abbotsford.

On the Island, a 55-unit project is planned in Langford with the funding of $8.9 million, and a 35-unit project in Nanaimo costing $4.6 million.

Vernon Native Housing Society is receiving $4.3 million for a 37-unit project in Vernon.

“Having Aboriginal housing providers able to meet the needs of their communities on the ground is essential to the reconciliation process and to helping our people in a culturally appropriate way,” Margaret Pfoh, chief executive officer of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association, said.


@ashwadhwani

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.



About the Author: Ashley Wadhwani-Smith

I began my journalistic journey at Black Press Media as a community reporter in my hometown of Maple Ridge, B.C.
Read more