Earlier this week, the Government of British Columbia launched BC Builds, which will deliver more lower-cost, middle-income rental homes faster. This new initiative brings together government, community and non-profit owned and underused land with $2 billion in low-cost financing and a commitment of $950 million for the overall program.
BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) and EngAge BC are pleased with this news, having previously highlighted the challenges that healthcare workers face due to the lack of available and affordable housing in the province, exacerbating staffing shortages in many communities.
“We commend the provincial government for this opportunity to address both the longstanding housing and health human resources (HHR) crises in the province,” says BCCPA and EngAge BC CEO, Terry Lake. “Our Association has continuously urged the government to work with BC Housing in building, purchasing, or leasing new worker housing in communities facing acute worker shortages.”
The Province also specifically names health authorities as a community landlord that could potentially benefit from the BC Builds program.
“The Association has been working extensively to recommend approaches to creating permanent solutions to this HHR crisis, including providing appropriate housing options,” says Lake. “We look forward to this new initiative through BC Housing that will help address staffing shortages to strengthen the delivery of seniors care in B.C.”
Read the B.C. Government’s news release here.
To learn more about the BC Builds program, visit: https://bcbuildshomes.ca.
