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VANCOUVER, BC (April 19, 2021) – Media are advised that Jill Atkey, CEO of BC Non-Profit Housing Association, and Thom Armstrong, CEO of the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC, will be available for interviews on the 2021 BC Budget following its release Tuesday, April 20.

Atkey and Armstrong can speak with reporters on measures to address the housing affordability crisis and the unique concerns of the community housing sector. More than a year into the pandemic that has exposed deep inequalities in our housing and health systems, the need for safe, secure and affordable housing has never been greater.

The BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations (BC RAHA) is an updated version of the Home Adaptations for Independence (HAFI) program. BC RAHA launched in March 2021.

It provides financial assistance for low-income households to carry out adaptations for independent living.

B.C.’s COVID-19 immunization plan was released on March 1. It provides details on how the COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed to different populations throughout the province. As we move into Phase 2 of the plan, the goal is to continue vaccinating vulnerable groups. Beginning this month that will include seniors aged 80+, residents of independent … Continued

CHF BC was a founding partner in the creation of The Community Housing Transformation Centre. Among other things, the Centre administers funding for co-ops and others to improve member (and tenant) engagement. This year’s funding period will end on March 31. Consider making an application under the Community-Based Tenant Initiative Fund. The following comes from … Continued

If you want to preserve your right to appeal your property assessment, the deadline is February 1. If you plan to dispute your assessment, you should contact BC Assessment before the end of the month. COVID drives more of the process online.

More and more people are looking at electric vehicles (EVs) for reduced environmental impact and other benefits. It’s still a challenge to develop the infrastructure to support those vehicles, but there is a short-term incentive program to help get you EV Ready that we’d like to highlight.

This is just a brief update for those interested in the City of Vancouver leasehold conversation.

City staff had intended to bring forward a report to Council in December 2020. That report will be delayed to the Council meeting scheduled for February 10, 2021.

CHF BC will work closely with members between now and then to get the best possible outcome.

For Immediate Release: Voters and Candidates Urged to Make Housing Central in Provincial Election Campaign Co-op and non-profit housing sectors outline key asks to address worsening crisis in British Columbia and provide tools for voters to learn about the issues in their community VANCOUVER, B.C. (October 14, 2020) – With voting day approaching, BC Non … Continued

British Columbians will elect their new provincial government on October 24th, 2020. There is no question that affordable housing and homelessness are amongst the top issues affecting voters.  Building on the success of our Rental Housing Index, we have compiled easy to navigate rental affordability data in each of B.C.’s 87 ridings to help you … Continued

September 1, 2020 marks an important date for co-ops that began under federal funding programs. CMHC’s new Rental Assistance Program (RAP, also known as FCHI-2, or the Federal Community Housing Initiative – Phase 2) is about to launch.

The co-op housing sector lobbied hard for the federal government to respond to the challenge of expiring operating agreements and RAP is the successful result of those efforts.

If you’re a non-profit housing co-op with ambitions to reduce your energy consumption by 25% or more, you may be eligible for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund.

FCM has about $300 million to disburse over the next six years under its Sustainable Affordable Housing program. That works out to $52 million annually, in a mix of loans (usually 10- or 20-year terms) and grants. These funds are general stackable with other programs like CMHC’s Co-investment Fund.

The City of Vancouver is launching a new program to help increase the number of non-profit and co-op homes in the municipality.

Using moneys from the Empty Homes Tax and the City’s own capital budget, the program offers incentives that can be paired with funding from other sources.