Mission is still on pace to miss an affordable housing target set by the Housing Needs Assessment in 2020, according to the city’s quarterly affordable housing strategy report.
The assessment projected that 750 affordable rental housing units (150 per year) would be needed by 2024. However, the city has issued building permits for 178 affordable housing units since 2020 and an additional 572 new units are needed by the end of 2024 to meet the target.
The city has 13 priorities that help guide its affordable housing strategy. An update was provided to council on the status of the various priorities on Dec. 4.
One element of the affordable housing strategy is fostering partnerships in the community. Two dialogue forums were held at the Mission Leisure Centre in May that brought together representatives from the faith-based community. The ‘Housing Innovation Day’ in June brought over 60 partners together with a stake in new affordable housing creation in Mission.
“Direct outcomes of these events are the formation of three separate stakeholder groups working to build new multi-family affordable housing projects in different strategic locations across the city,” the report reads.
Support for SARA For Women is another priority for the city. BC Housing is building housing for SARA as part of a City of Mission, BC Housing, and SARA for Women partnership.
Meanwhile, bylaws have been drafted focused on tenant relocation and protection, standards of maintenance and an affordable housing reserve fund. The bylaws are expected to come before council in 2024.
“AHS implementation priorities have had a significant focus on building data-informed and collaborative multi-sector capacity along with municipal policy tools that will create the necessary conditions to create new affordable rental housing units,” the report reads.
Other major initiatives underway not a part of the 13 priorities include a CMHC grant application that could provide funding for affordable housing and the Foundry grant application.
On Nov. 2, council approved the housing coordinator position for another year.
“With sufficient resources made available by council to fund the affordable housing strategy implementation work, including continued work by the social housing coordinator, significant work is underway towards implementing the top 13 strategies by 2025,” the report reads.