The Province of British Columbia has announced that Squamish will be among the ten communities to receive new housing targets.
The new group includes Burnaby, Coquitlam, Courtenay, Township of Langley, Langford, Penticton, Pitt Meadows, Richmond, Squamish and Vernon. These communities will be assigned targets based on 75% of their estimated housing need, following consultation with the Province.
“By joining the housing targets program, they will demonstrate that all communities, regardless of size, have a vital role to play in addressing the housing crisis,” the Province said.
Squamish has already secured $7 million in federal funding through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund, which supports a three-year plan to increase the supply of new housing. The District’s Housing Action Plan outlines 32 actions, of which 25 have been completed, district says.
Key initiatives include zoning changes to allow more small-scale multi-unit housing, new policies to secure affordable homes, updates to the Official Community Plan, and a bylaw to help fund community amenities.
The District stated that it would continue to collaborate with the Province on funding and support to achieve its housing objectives and address broader infrastructure needs, including transit, healthcare, and recreation.
