affordable housing

A rental sign is seen outside a building in Ottawa, Thursday, April 30, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Hot rental market makes search ‘stressful’ for many — it won’t get better soon

Canada needs to build millions more homes before prices will lower: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.

 

Roommates will have to get ultra-friendly if they are going to share a room together in a Victoria rental. (Pexels)

Victoria landlords now asking tenants to rent ‘half’ of a master bedroom

Ad on Facebook Marketplace wants strangers to share a bedroom

 

The Heart on the Hill affordable housing building was originally planned with intentions for one-third of the units to be rented to persons with developmental disabilities, but that didn’t happen. (News Bulletin photo)

Few tenants with disabilities able to access Ladysmith affordable housing

Original vision of one-third of units for adults with developmental disabilities doesn’t materialize

 

The Norwegian Sun cruise ship’s passengers were set to get about a 10-hour stay in Victoria as the vessel docked at Ogden Point on July 18. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Victoria springs for $2.5M to build housing for hospitality workers

Money for 40-unit project comes from special fund

The Norwegian Sun cruise ship’s passengers were set to get about a 10-hour stay in Victoria as the vessel docked at Ogden Point on July 18. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Not all rental units are getting snapped up by renters. (Ron Cogswell/Flickr)

Move-in bonuses, free parking offered by ‘desperate’ Victoria landlords

It’s a crowded rental market, but not all places getting snapped up

Not all rental units are getting snapped up by renters. (Ron Cogswell/Flickr)
Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, speaks during an announcement outside a rental housing building being developed by the University of British Columbia Properties Trust, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada’s social housing stock lagging behind peer countries

Federal government stopped investing in housing in the 1990s

Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, speaks during an announcement outside a rental housing building being developed by the University of British Columbia Properties Trust, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
UVic students Eva Dillon and Abigail Stephen have lived in five different houses during the last two years and are searching for long-term options. (Natasha Baldin/News Staff)

Students stuck amid soaring Greater Victoria rents as return to campus looms

Competition fierce for all kinds of housing

UVic students Eva Dillon and Abigail Stephen have lived in five different houses during the last two years and are searching for long-term options. (Natasha Baldin/News Staff)
North Okanagan-Shuswap Conservative MP Mel Arnold (left) and colleague, MP Michelle Fererri of Peterborough-Kawartha (Ontario) meet with media in Vernon Friday, Aug. 11, at the Schubert Centre. Fererri is the shadow cabinet critic for families, children and social development. She and Arnold spent two hours listening to concerns in the riding from invited stakeholders. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Canada abound in crises: Ontario MP during Vernon visit

Michelle Ferreri is a Conservative shadow cabinet critic for families, children and social development

North Okanagan-Shuswap Conservative MP Mel Arnold (left) and colleague, MP Michelle Fererri of Peterborough-Kawartha (Ontario) meet with media in Vernon Friday, Aug. 11, at the Schubert Centre. Fererri is the shadow cabinet critic for families, children and social development. She and Arnold spent two hours listening to concerns in the riding from invited stakeholders. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
The James Way Causeway, built in 1903, gives an up-close view of boats in the inner harbour. (Samantha Duerksen)

International immigration pacing Capital Region’s population jump: report

Region’s fertility rate remains one of the lowest in Canada

The James Way Causeway, built in 1903, gives an up-close view of boats in the inner harbour. (Samantha Duerksen)
This 27-foot sailboat is available to rent for $500. It includes a dining area. (Photo from Craigslist)

‘Minimalist’ Victoria tenant sought to rent dilapidated boat in crisis market

Victoria rents continue to rise, but this is an ‘off-the-grid’ bargain

This 27-foot sailboat is available to rent for $500. It includes a dining area. (Photo from Craigslist)
Parksville Mayor Doug O’Brien speaks at a press conference announcing the opening of 87 affordable housing units at 364 Moilliet St. (Kevin Forsyth photo)

87-unit affordable rental home development now open in Parksville

Residents have already started to move in

Parksville Mayor Doug O’Brien speaks at a press conference announcing the opening of 87 affordable housing units at 364 Moilliet St. (Kevin Forsyth photo)
The Attainable Housing Development Society works with local communities an organizations to fill the housing gap in British Columbia. This summer, they’re hosting their New Home Raffle – giving you the chance to win an amazing home overlooking beautiful Shuswap Lake. Photos courtesy AHDS

Lake life awaits with New Home Raffle

Enter to win a Shuswap Lake home, and help bring attainable housing to others

  • Jul 10, 2023
The Attainable Housing Development Society works with local communities an organizations to fill the housing gap in British Columbia. This summer, they’re hosting their New Home Raffle – giving you the chance to win an amazing home overlooking beautiful Shuswap Lake. Photos courtesy AHDS
Construction is underway on a new affordable housing development at 600 Beach Rd. in Qualicum Beach. From left: Mayor Teunis Westbroek, Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing, Scott Rodway, president of Qualicum Parksville Kiwanis Housing Society and Adam Walker, MLA for Parksville Qualicum. (Kevin Forsyth photo)

Construction underway on 56 affordable housing units in Qualicum Beach

Seventy per cent of the units will have rent geared to income

Construction is underway on a new affordable housing development at 600 Beach Rd. in Qualicum Beach. From left: Mayor Teunis Westbroek, Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing, Scott Rodway, president of Qualicum Parksville Kiwanis Housing Society and Adam Walker, MLA for Parksville Qualicum. (Kevin Forsyth photo)
A rendering of Abstract Development’s three-storey, 25-unit residential project near Swan Lake that was approved by Saanich council earlier in 2023. (Courtesy Abstract Developments)

Saanich putting developments ‘through the wringer’ only adds to crisis: expert

Housing expert says cities need to speed up approval process

  • Jun 23, 2023
A rendering of Abstract Development’s three-storey, 25-unit residential project near Swan Lake that was approved by Saanich council earlier in 2023. (Courtesy Abstract Developments)
WeCan Shelter Society co-founder Charlene Davis came up with the idea a few years ago to repurpose sea containers into houses for the unhoused population of the Comox Valley. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)

VIDEO: Comox Valley non-profit builds shelters out of sea containers for the unhoused

‘We intend to carry on until we have a reason to not’: WeCan Shelter Society chairperson Charlene Davis

WeCan Shelter Society co-founder Charlene Davis came up with the idea a few years ago to repurpose sea containers into houses for the unhoused population of the Comox Valley. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)
A Victoria condo on Blanshard with no bedrooms is renting for $2,800 a month. (Contributed photo/Craisgslist)

Tiny Victoria rentals with zero bedrooms demanding $2.8K, says ‘couch surfer’

Victoria renter forced to go from couch to couch due to soaring rental prices

A Victoria condo on Blanshard with no bedrooms is renting for $2,800 a month. (Contributed photo/Craisgslist)
Treska Watson, the director of operations at the Mustard Seed Street Church stands in front of a truck used to move donations from the location in Esquimalt after a fire on March 27 caused damage to the inside of the location in Victoria on Queens Avenue. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

Soaring inflation, influx of student clients hit Victoria food bank

Mustard Seed resources being strained

  • Jun 12, 2023
Treska Watson, the director of operations at the Mustard Seed Street Church stands in front of a truck used to move donations from the location in Esquimalt after a fire on March 27 caused damage to the inside of the location in Victoria on Queens Avenue. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock outside two 11-unit purpose-built rental buildings on Richmond Road near Royal Jubilee Hospital. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Saanich endorses zone allowing small apartment buildings on single-family lots

Staff report indicates district needs more than 1,200 new bachelor, one-bedroom units by 2025

Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock outside two 11-unit purpose-built rental buildings on Richmond Road near Royal Jubilee Hospital. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
John Horn, executive director of Connective, shows Lisa Marie Barron, Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP, a newly opened seniors independent living building on Labieux Road near Diver Lake on April 13. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Federal NDP calling for funding for non-profits to be able to buy and rent out apartments

New Democrats want federal government to ‘get back into housing’

John Horn, executive director of Connective, shows Lisa Marie Barron, Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP, a newly opened seniors independent living building on Labieux Road near Diver Lake on April 13. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
Philip and Sonja Hathaway say they will camp in front of the B.C. legislature until they receive some news of when they will get their newborn daughter back. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

Couple camps at B.C. legislature to protest apprehension of newborn at Victoria hospital

Philip and Sonja Hathaway say their rights and the rights of their new daughter have been violated

Philip and Sonja Hathaway say they will camp in front of the B.C. legislature until they receive some news of when they will get their newborn daughter back. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)