Affordable Housing Initiative
Housing is essential for healthy and resilient communities. This initiative helps ensure that Basin residents have access to housing that meets their needs by creating new affordable housing and helps retain existing affordable housing stock.
The Affordable Housing Initiative can help local governments and non-profit housing societies build new affordable housing units in the Basin by supporting proposal development and capital funding including support to install solar photovoltaic arrays, fibre optic cable and construction training opportunities. We also support energy efficiency upgrades to existing older affordable housing through our Energy Retrofit Program.
Housing needs for Basin communities vary by location, size, demographic need and economic means. If your organization has a project idea, review the information below and reach out to Trust staff to explore options for potential support.
Since 2015 the Trust has:
- supported the creation of 1,109 units of affordable housing
- contributed $47.2 million to housing initiatives in the Basin
How to Apply
The Trust can support eligible organizations with funding for project development and capital costs to create new affordable housing projects.
If your organization has a project idea, reach out to housing@ourtrust.org to connect with Trust staff to explore your project and possible Trust support.
Recent Projects
We are involved in housing projects across the Columbia Basin.
- Visit our newsroom to see recent Affordable Housing Initiative Program announcements and projects here.
- Read Basin Stories featuring Trust supported housing projects here.
Explore a few recently supported projects below:
Castlegar
- Kootenay Society for Community Living created 13 new affordable rental homes at Eagle Estates.
- Habitat for Humanity built four affordable family homes.
Cranbrook
- The Aqanttanam Housing Society built 39 new affordable rental homes at the Chief Agnes McCoy Centre.
Creston
- The Kootenay Region Association for Community Living renovated the Cedar Linden Building at Spectrum farms to create nine affordable rental homes near Creston.
Invermere
- Family Dynamix Association completed 30 affordable rental homes at the Invermere Farmhouse.
Kaslo
- The Kaslo Housing Society completed 10 new affordable homes that are energy efficient and have rooftop renewable solar energy generation and fibre optic cable at Penny Lane Apartments in Kaslo.
Kimberley
- The Kimberley Seniors Project Society created 12 affordable rental homes at Pioneer Lodge.
Nakusp
- Arrow and Slocan Lakes Community Services built 10 affordable housing units at Arrow Heights.
Nelson
- Nelson CARES Society created 47 affordable housing units at Lakeside Place.
New Denver
- The New Denver and Area Housing Society completed 10 new affordable rental homes that are energy efficient and have rooftop renewable solar energy generation and fibre optic cable at the Osprey.
Revelstoke
- Revelstoke Community Housing Society built 24 new affordable rental homes at 297 Humbert Street.
Rossland
- The Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society completed 37 new affordable rental homes at Rossland Yards.
Slocan
- The Slocan Valley Seniors’ Housing Society built 12 affordable rental homes at Slocan City Suites.
Sparwood
- The Elk Valley Family Society created 30 new affordable rental homes that are energy efficient and have fibre optic cable and rooftop renewable solar energy generation at Timbers Landing.
Valemount
- The Valemount Senior Citizen’s Housing Society completed 18 new affordable rental homes that are accessible, energy efficient and have fibre optic cable and rooftop renewable solar energy generation at 1101 Ash Street.
Resources
2024 Asset Management Webinar
- 2024 Affordable Housing Asset Management Webinar Presentation.
- Asset management tool to plan and budget for repairs and maintenance: Capital Planning Template.
2024 Columbia Basin Trust Affordable Housing and Funding Workshop Materials
- Presentations: BC Housing, Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Columbia Basin Trust and M’akola.
- Resources: Pre Development Guide, Society-Led Proposal Material, CHF Appendix 14A: Operating and Capital Budgets, CHF Appendix 14: Operations, EDIB and Reconciliation and CMHC Seed Viability Calculator.
BC Housing (BCH)
- Building BC – Resources and information on partnering with BC Housing to build affordable rental housing including the Project Development Fund, Community Housing Fund (CHF) and Indigenous Housing Fund (IHF).
- BC Builds – low-cost financing and grants to build middle-income homes on government, community and non-profit owned land.
- BC Housing Learning Centre
BC Non-profit Housing Association
- Education, tools and conferences for non-profit societies that operate affordable housing including the following guides: Hiring and working with Development Consultants; A Path to Partnership.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
- Affordable Housing Fund (Formerly the National Housing Co-investment) – provides low interest and/or forgivable loans and contributions to construct or renovate affordable housing.
- Co-op Housing Development Program – Forgivable and low-interest repayable loans to build rental co-operative housing.
- Seed Funding – Interest free loans and non-repayable contributions to assist with early development expenses.
Community Housing Transformation Centre (The Centre)
- The Centre provides grants, tools and services to support community housing stakeholders including the Green Kickstarter Fund and Sector Transformation Fund.
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
- Sustainable Affordable Housing – Funding for early stage planning, studies, pilot projects and building or renovating affordable housing.
Non-profit Advisors Program
- Non-profit Advisors Program has resources to help Basin non-profit organizations build organizational capacity and sustainability.
Final Report
Complete your final report here.