New affordable rental building supports Downtown Eastside women

VANCOUVER, March 16, 2018 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and British Columbia announced the official opening of the Olivia Skye building, a 198 studio and one-bedroom mixed development that includes affordable rental housing in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

Located at 41 East Hastings Street, the building's 52 studio units will be rented at the maximum shelter allowance rate to single women, with an additional 20 units set aside for older women who are eligible to receive the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters rent supplement, providing much-needed housing in the community.

Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the Honourable Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Mayor Gregor Robertson, City of Vancouver along with representatives from Atira Women's Resource Society, Streetohome Foundation and Cressey Development made the announcement today.

Quotes:

"Our Government is investing in affordable housing in Vancouver and across the country to improve the quality of life for those who need it most. Olivia Skye creates stability for women struggling to find safe, quality housing in the Downtown Eastside. Olivia Skye also includes housing for low and moderate income earners because of the innovative partnership between governments, community partners like Atira and market leaders like Cressey Development." ? Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade

"It's gratifying to see that so many partners stepped up to make this project a reality. People with low-to moderate-incomes, including women in need, now have a safe and secure home they can afford in their community. These are the kinds of homes that we need more of throughout the province to help people build a better life." ? Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

"Olivia Skye will provide almost 200 new homes that are a mix of secured market rental and social housing?including 52 homes renting at shelter rates?for those who need it most, particularly women who are living in the Downtown Eastside and struggling to find safe and affordable housing. These new homes are a great example of the impact we can have when all levels of government are at the table and we are actively engaging with our partners in the public, private and non-profit sectors to deliver more urgently needed homes for Vancouver residents." ? Mayor Gregor Robertson, City of Vancouver

"This building has been an almost 10-year labour of love and Atira is profoundly grateful to its partners who stepped up along the way, including the Cressey Development Group, the City of Vancouver, BC Housing, the federal government, Streetohome and the MariaMarina Foundation, which made the poignant and striking building art possible. We are thrilled every time we show someone who earns a moderate income an amazing home they can afford, and even more so when we offer a woman a home she never dreamed she would have. This is what makes our work worthwhile." ? Janice Abbott, CEO, Atira Women's Resource Society

Quick facts:

• The Government of Canada through CMHC and the Government of British Columbia through BC Housing jointly contributed approximately $9.02 million for up to 52 affordable housing units through the Canada-B.C. Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement.
• The Government of Canada recently unveiled its National Housing Strategy?a 10-year, $40 billion plan that will create 100,000 new housing units and lift 530,000 families out of housing need.
• The Government of Canada also invested approximately $1.88 million towards this project through the Homelessness Partnering Strategy.
• Since April 1, 2014 the Homelessness Partnering Strategy has helped over 17,000 people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless be placed into more stable housing; approximately 34,000 have received Housing Loss Prevention intervention; and over 12,000 have gained access to services though case management.
• To address the issue of housing affordability for British Columbians, the Province is curbing speculation in B.C.'s housing market and helping to build 114,000 affordable market rental, non-profit, supported social housing and owner-purchased housing through partnerships.
• The Government of British Columbia is making the biggest investment in housing affordability in B.C. history?more than $7 billion over 10 years.
• The City of Vancouver contributed a capital grant of $1.2 million and DCL waivers and exemptions of $1.18 million to this project to secure affordable rental housing for many women in Vancouver.
• Streetohome Foundation contributed $1,040,000 thanks to the generous contributions of the Carraresi and MariaMarina Foundations.

Associated links:

As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Read Homes for B.C., the British Columbia government's 30-point plan to address housing affordability for British Columbians: bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2018/homesbc/2018_Homes_For_BC.pdf

Providing more of the right supply of housing for people who live and work in Vancouver is a top priority in the new Housing Vancouver strategy. The bold 10-year plan includes measures that go after real estate speculation, offer more protection for renters and will transform single-family neighbourhoods across the city. The plan includes approving a target of 12,000 new units of permanent social and supportive housing over the next 10 years.

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation