The Squamish Community Housing Society (Housing Squamish), is bringing a special funding request to the District of Squamish council tomorrow. The Society is asking that the municipality hold its annual operating contribution steady at $500,000 for 2027 and 2028, rather than proceeding with a planned reduction to $450,000.
The request, submitted by Executive Director Sarah Ellis, comes in response to a series of external pressures that have disrupted the Society’s original revenue projections, including the BC Government’s cancellation of the 2025 Community Housing Fund application intake.
That cancellation effectively stalled a proposed affordable housing development at 39900 Government Road, a project that was expected to generate $48,000 in annual operating revenue for the Society. That revenue was central to the plan for stepping down District funding.
“Much has changed in our environment since the Society developed the revenue model provided to the District in 2024,” Ellis wrote in her letter to Council. The Society cited economic uncertainty, tightening senior government budgets, stalled private development, and difficulty accessing affordable land in Squamish as contributing factors.
Despite the setbacks, Housing Squamish says it has made meaningful progress since launching operations four years ago. They report it has leveraged the District’s $2 million in operating contributions into nearly $17.5 million in total partner investment in affordable housing.
To manage costs, the organization says it kept staffing and operating expenses lean and has begun diversifying its revenue. It has done so by contracting with private developers to manage tenant eligibility screenings for district-secured affordable units, and has plans to expand toward a District-wide waitlist system.
The Society is requesting that funding stepdowns be deferred to the 2029 calendar year, buying time to stabilize its pipeline and adapt its business model to the changed landscape.
Housing Squamish says it remains committed to long-term financial self-sufficiency and will continue working with District staff on any necessary adjustments to its business plan, bringing those updates to Council as needed.
The request falls under the existing 2025-2029 Contribution Agreement between the District of Squamish and the Squamish Community Housing Society.
I’m wondering where public disclosure of compensation for staff has been made. As well as an administrative overview including budgets.