The Victoria Towers is starting to fill up.
Tenants started moving into the building in February, a B.C. Housing representative said Tuesday, and will continue to do so as more units are made ready.
B.C. Housing, the provincial government's provider of low-income housing, purchased the 12-story apartment building in October 2012, nearly a year after a fire damaged 26 of the 93 units.
Although unaffected by the fire, most of the remaining 67 units were in a poor state of repair and needed significant upgrades before they could be occupied once more, the representative said.
B.C. Housing purchased the building for $7.8 million and committed $3.2 million to repairs and upgrades although a final figure is not yet in as renovation work remains ongoing.
Tenants qualify based on a demonstrated need for affordable housing and individual circumstances. For example, someone who is at risk of homelessness due to an emergency may be placed before another applicant who currently has secure housing.
Rent is geared to income and would not exceed 30 per cent of an individual's or family's income.
An official opening is scheduled for later this spring.
