(BRENDAN KERGIN / iNFOnews.ca)
October 25, 2023 - 8:45 AM
Kelowna is the first BC city to benefit from the federal government’s $4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund. It will get $31.5 million to fast track construction of an additional 950 housing units over the next three years.
That announcement was made by federal housing minister Sean Fraser in Kelowna today, Oct. 25.
“Everyone deserves a place to call home, that’s why increasing diverse, attainable, and affordable housing options is one of Council’s top priorities,” Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas said in a news release. “The Housing Accelerator Fund is key to propelling us forward to meet the needs of today and into the future.”
Five other Canadian cities – Halifax and four in Ontario – have already received a total of $419.3 million from the fund.
Those grants ranged from $74 million in London, ON. to $114 million in Brampton, ON. All the other cities are two to four times larger than Kelowna.
“Kelowna has been a leader in infill housing and is committed to expanding as-of-right zoning for more infill housing in its core,” the news release says. “These initiatives are going to significantly improve access to housing in Kelowna.
READ MORE: Kelowna 'pre-zoning' hundreds of single family homes for fourplexes to meet housing demand
That funding is intended to reduce barriers to building housing so it can be done faster.
“It will allow for higher density development along rapid transit corridors, make city-owned lands available for affordable housing development in partnership with non-profits, and expand the use of technology to streamline building permit applications,” the news release says.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Rob Munro or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.
News from © iNFOnews, 2023