Affordable, accessible homes coming for seniors in Elkford

April 30, 2024

Elkford Tuesday, April 30, 2024 11:30 AM

Seniors and people living with disabilities in Elkford will soon have access to 25 affordable rental homes with construction underway on a new development.“These accessible and adaptable homes will allow seniors and people living with disabilities to live comfortably and independently, close to friends and family,” said Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s Minister of Housing. “Through our Homes for People action plan, we’re delivering thousands of homes across the province that meet the diverse needs of renters, and more are on the way.”

The four-storey building at 214 Alpine Way will contain 25 one-bedroom units, all of which will be accessible or adaptable to accommodate residents’ current and changing accessibility needs. The project will also include ground-mounted solar panels to help produce additional power.

“This project is going to help get homes built for seniors in Elkford that they can afford and create options for those with disabilities, so they can live in the community they call home,” said Sean Fraser, federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.

The project is the result of a partnership between federal and provincial governments, the Regional District of East Kootenay, the District of Elkford, the Columbia Basin Trust, Teck Coal Limited (Teck) and the Elkford Housing Society, which will operate the building.

The site is located within one kilometre of the downtown core and essential services, including a grocery store, pharmacy, park and library, as well as the Elkford Medical Centre. Construction of the new homes is expected to be complete in 2025.

The project is part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the Province has nearly 78,000 new homes that have been delivered or are underway, including more than 900 affordable homes in the Kootenay Boundary, and Central and East Kootenay regions.

Quick Facts:

The Province, through BC Housing, provided approximately $2.8 million to the project from the Building BC: Community Housing Fund.
The federal government provided $12.7 million through the Affordable Housing Fund.
The Canada-British Columbia Bilateral Agreement provided $975,000 in joint funding under the National Housing Strategy.
The Columbia Basin Trust provided approximately $670,000.
The Regional District of East Kootenay provided approximately $500,000.
The District of Elkford provided approximately $200,000 in in-kind assistance.
Teck provided $1 million, as well as an in-kind land donation, valued at approximately $400,000.

Learn More:

To learn about B.C.’s Homes for People action plan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HOUS0019-000436

To learn about the steps the Province is taking to tackle the housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for people in British Columbia, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/housing/

A map showing the location of all announced provincially funded housing projects in B.C. is available here: https://www.bchousing.org/homes-for-BC

To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit: https://www.placetocallhome.ca/

A backgrounder follows.

What people are saying about the new homes

Harwinder Sandhu, Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors’ Services and Long-Term Care –

“These homes will make a huge difference in the lives of seniors and people living with disabilities, who want to live independently near amenities that support their health and well-being. I’m proud to be part of a government that’s prioritizing their needs, while addressing a housing crisis that we know disproportionately affects them.”

Brittny Anderson, MLA for Nelson-Creston –

“These new units will provide secure, affordable and accessible places to call home for seniors and people living with disabilities in Elkford. As ground breaks on this exciting project, I want to thank all of our partners for their dedication and collaboration, and for continuing to invest in rural communities across British Columbia.”

Steve Fairbairn, mayor of Elkford –

“After years of planning by the Elkford Housing Society, we’re thrilled to see this project underway. The district strongly supports purpose-built, affordable rental housing and housing for seniors in our community, and this project is a prime example of the development we’re hoping to see in our growing downtown area.”

Thomas McDonald, director, Electoral Area A, Regional District of East Kootenay –

“We recognize the importance of creating safe and comfortable spaces for our seniors to call home, while enjoying all the benefits that come with staying in their community. We are proud to be a funding partner on this initiative and to see construction underway on this vibrant, accessible housing project in Elkford.”

Johnny Strilaeff, president and CEO, Columbia Basin Trust –

“Access to affordable rental housing is a pressing issue, which is why the trust has prioritized supporting communities, like Elkford, to create housing that meets their needs. We’re excited to support construction-related training opportunities and see solar arrays and high-speed fibre installed for the 25 finished units. Congratulations to the Elkford Housing Society and to all the partners for their commitment to making this project a reality.”

Robin Sheremeta, president, coal business unit, Teck –

“Teck is proud to have contributed funding and land toward the construction of the Elkford seniors housing project. We are committed to working with project partners and stakeholders alike to help support much-needed rental units for residents to continue living in Elkford, a place many call home.”

Kim Bauer, vice-president, Elkford Housing Society –

“The Elkford Housing Society is very excited about our partnership with BC Housing, the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation, Columbia Basin Trust, District of Elkford, Regional District of East Kootenay and Teck to provide 25 units of barrier-free housing for seniors and people with disabilities in Elkford. The society is pleased that this housing will allow seniors and people living with disabilities to remain in Elkford as they age.”

This is on BC Govt website go to the website here

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