Prince George will see two new affordable housing projects after the province announced $5.1 million to local non-profits leading the developments.
The Aboriginal Housing Society and the Prince George and District Elizabeth Fry Housing Society will be responsible for the homes that both said they hope will open in 2018.
Ruby Baptiste, Aboriginal Housing Society board president, said the organization's been working towards the three-story 27-unit development for three years.
"Now we're finally here," said Baptiste of the $3.5 million in funding.
"Recognizing a growing population of seniors and specifically those with Aboriginal ancestry, this development will focus on creative solutions to enable to age healthily in their community," she said, noting the space is needed in a city that faces declining vacancies and rising rent.
Elizabeth Fry was handed $1.6 million to help it built up to 35 homes along the 2700 and 2800 block of 15th Avenue.
Its board chair Suzanne Jackson said the society already offers 128 units in Prince George and though it still needs to finalize details, the announcement is a key first step.
"We're delighted to reach this stage of the process."
It's been in the development phase for the last year-and-a-half, added executive director Kathi Heim.
"We're delighted to be adding to the stock of affordable housing. We hope it will give opportunity to low and moderate family incomes to have an opportunity to have safe and affordable housing," said Heim.
Wait lists provide a window into the local need for affordable accommodation. The Aboriginal Housing Society, which manages 200 single and multi-unit properties, has between 400 and 500 on its list.
"Those individuals represent families," said spokesman Christos Vardacostas."The need is reflected... This definitely needed to happen."
Its development, at 1811 Spruce St., will create new rental homes for low-income seniors with a priority for elders of aboriginal ancestry.
And the Housing First program, operated by the Association Advocating for Women and Children to help house the homeless, has more than 100 on its wait list.
"We recognize that housing, it's not just an issue of affordability, it's often a matter of availability," said Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond at Monday's morning announcement at Elizabeth Fry Place.
Bond and MLA Mike Morris were on hand to announce Prince George's portion following the September commitment of $500-million toward affordable rental housing in B.C.
Mayor Lyn Hall said projects like the RiverBend Seniors Community project and the two announced Monday show how the city, non-profits and the province can work together.
City council has focused on filling current and future affordable housing needs, Hall said, calling it a "monumental task"
"It's one of our top priorities to make sure that happens."
The projects will likely appear before council at a future meeting to discuss approval for zoning changes. Both, as non-profits, will qualify for tax exemptions.
For the Elizabeth Fry housing at 2744 and 2820 - 2880 on 15th Ave., council will likely consider a long-term lease (as the city did with a previous project with the society) or transfer the land for a nominal fee, as was the case with other BC Housing projects, said city planning and development general manager Ian Wells.
