Housing

The challenging rental accommodation market in Greater Victoria, combined with the effects of the pandemic, leaves some renters on the edge of losing stable housing. A new rent bank program aims to help provide a buffer for those facing short-term cash flow shortages. (Courtesy Victoria Foundation)

Financial help on its way for at-risk Greater Victoria renters

Community Social Planning Council leads way on program offering interest-free, short-term loans

 

A cold-weather camp in St. Anne Church’s parking lot that was set up on Monday, Feb. 15, was disassembled and asked to relocate by the church on Thursday, Feb. 18. (Mandy Moraes photo)

BC Housing announces 8-bed winter shelter now available in Parksville

Makeshift cold-weather camp has been disbanded

 

The Cowichan Valley will need an additional 5,000 housing units by 2025 to keep up with demand, according to a new report. (File photo)

Cowichan simply doesn’t have enough homes for growing population

5,000 new housing units needed by 2025 according to CVRD report

 

It started with a broken window, and when that wasn’t fixed promptly, people started breaking in and trashed the apartment. The tenant was out of town, as was the building owner (Zoe Ducklow photo)

New owners give new hope to troubled North Island complex

Community hopes change and investment can improve living standards in the run-down apartment

It started with a broken window, and when that wasn’t fixed promptly, people started breaking in and trashed the apartment. The tenant was out of town, as was the building owner (Zoe Ducklow photo)
Latoya Wiks is making life as normal as possible for her five kids, but having everyone share one crowded room is stressful. Pictured with baby Tobias and three-year-old Novah. (Zoe Ducklow photo)

Apartment fire shines spotlight on North Island family housing shortage

The suspicious January fire dispossessed 15 families in Port Hardy, six still looking for homes

Latoya Wiks is making life as normal as possible for her five kids, but having everyone share one crowded room is stressful. Pictured with baby Tobias and three-year-old Novah. (Zoe Ducklow photo)
Logs are seen in an aerial view stacked at the Interfor sawmill, in Grand Forks, B.C., Saturday, May 12, 2018. An unexpected rebound in wood product prices this month is boosting profits for Canadian forestry companies but leaving homeowners and buyers with the prospect of higher home and renovation costs in 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Wood products pricing surge expected to persist, raising 2021 house, renovation costs

Lumber prices have added as much as $30K to the construction cost of a typical 2,500-square-foot house

Logs are seen in an aerial view stacked at the Interfor sawmill, in Grand Forks, B.C., Saturday, May 12, 2018. An unexpected rebound in wood product prices this month is boosting profits for Canadian forestry companies but leaving homeowners and buyers with the prospect of higher home and renovation costs in 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Houses are seen in an aerial view, in Langley, B.C., on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. A company that supports hundreds of credit unions across Canada predicts British Columbia’s housing market will remain healthy through 2021 as the province moves out of its COVID-19 slump. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. housing market to remain vibrant through the new year: report

The report also forecasts a firmer rental market through 2022 as economic conditions normalize

Houses are seen in an aerial view, in Langley, B.C., on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. A company that supports hundreds of credit unions across Canada predicts British Columbia’s housing market will remain healthy through 2021 as the province moves out of its COVID-19 slump. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Black Press Media file photo.

‘Please take my tenant!’ landlord posts to Used Victoria

Landlord will pay you damage, first month’s rent to take his tenant

Black Press Media file photo.
The Town of Qualicum Beach will temporarily allow RVs to be used as place to stay for frontline workers. (PQB News file photo)

COVID-19: Qualicum Beach to allow frontline workers to live in RVs for self-isolation

Town to temporarily relax regulations

The Town of Qualicum Beach will temporarily allow RVs to be used as place to stay for frontline workers. (PQB News file photo)
An artistic rendering of a proposed affordable housing community in Tofino that took a massive step forward last week as BC Housing announced a roughly $3.6 million grant for the project. (Tofino council agenda image)

Tofino receives $3.6M for affordable housing project

Partnership awarded by provincial government’s Building BC: Community Housing Fund.

An artistic rendering of a proposed affordable housing community in Tofino that took a massive step forward last week as BC Housing announced a roughly $3.6 million grant for the project. (Tofino council agenda image)
A man walks past an affordable housing complex, being constructed in Charlottetown’s Hillsborough Park area, on Saturday, February 29, 2020. Seven provinces have signed on to a federal rent assistance program created as part of the national housing strategy, three more than the Liberals have announced, newly released documents show. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

More provinces sign up for rent benefit as Liberals set up promised housing council

Indigenous housing providers are pushing for the government to finally unveil a plan

A man walks past an affordable housing complex, being constructed in Charlottetown’s Hillsborough Park area, on Saturday, February 29, 2020. Seven provinces have signed on to a federal rent assistance program created as part of the national housing strategy, three more than the Liberals have announced, newly released documents show. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Houses under construction in Toronto on Friday, June 26, 2015. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts increased in October. The national housing agency says the seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts rose to 214,875 units last month compared with 208,715 in September. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

CMHC says annual pace of housing starts climbed higher in October

The seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts rose to 214,875 units last month

Houses under construction in Toronto on Friday, June 26, 2015. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts increased in October. The national housing agency says the seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts rose to 214,875 units last month compared with 208,715 in September. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy
In March 2020, more than 1,500 people were homeless in Victoria, according to a survey by the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness. (Black Press Media file photo)

Housing, homelessness and affordability top concerns in Greater Victoria: Vital Signs report

2020 report sees drop in ratings for housing, newcomer opportunities

In March 2020, more than 1,500 people were homeless in Victoria, according to a survey by the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness. (Black Press Media file photo)
A modular unit is lifted into place on the supportive housing complex at 580 Dogwood Street on Oct. 22. Photo by Cleo Corbett/City of Campbell River

Campbell River’s newest supportive housing facility rises on Dogwood Street

Pre-fab modular construction means the building can go on the foundation in under five days

A modular unit is lifted into place on the supportive housing complex at 580 Dogwood Street on Oct. 22. Photo by Cleo Corbett/City of Campbell River
Tofino welcome sign. (Westerly file photo)

Housing proposal highlights capacity concerns in Tofino

Water supply, school and hospital all cited as council urges caution in growth.

Tofino welcome sign. (Westerly file photo)
CMHC president Evan Siddall speaks to the Canadian Club of Toronto in Toronto on June 1, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

New tools, ideas needed to speed up housing strategy funding, CMHC president says

The COVID-19 pandemic has made housing affordability an even bigger issue

CMHC president Evan Siddall speaks to the Canadian Club of Toronto in Toronto on June 1, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
One of the 2019 contestants in the Gingerbread Showcase, which had the theme Building a Diverse Community. Funds raised from this annual event go to Habitat for Humanity Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

Bakers invited to whip up some ‘Coastal Living’ for the latest Habitat Victoria Gingerbread Showcase

Organizers set for in-person and online viewing come November

One of the 2019 contestants in the Gingerbread Showcase, which had the theme Building a Diverse Community. Funds raised from this annual event go to Habitat for Humanity Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)
Saanich council members met with representatives from the University of Victoria and Camosu College for a preliminary discussion regarding off-campus student behaviour. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich starts talks with UVic, Camosun about off-campus student housing

Council looks solve parking, rental issues raised at public hearing on unrelated occupancy

Saanich council members met with representatives from the University of Victoria and Camosu College for a preliminary discussion regarding off-campus student behaviour. (Black Press Media file photo)
In mid-August residents will begin moving into Spaken House, a supportive housing complex for Indigenous women in Victoria. (Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society/Facebook)

New supportive housing complex for Indigenous women opens in Victoria

Supports carefully curated to promote well-being

In mid-August residents will begin moving into Spaken House, a supportive housing complex for Indigenous women in Victoria. (Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society/Facebook)
This jaw dropping kitchen area helped Icon Developments earn four 2020 Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards. (Photo courtesy of Icon Developments)

West Coast Vancouver Island builder earns four VIBE awards

Icon Developments owner Jamie Carson says collaboration is key.

This jaw dropping kitchen area helped Icon Developments earn four 2020 Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards. (Photo courtesy of Icon Developments)