These developments aim to provide some much-needed supply in the province’s consistently tight market
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Amid the provincial trend of elevated housing costs, the Canadian and British Columbian governments have announced the opening of two low-cost communities in Quesnel.
The two housing projects bring with them 68 new affordable rental units, particularly aimed at the needs of individuals and families with low to mid-level incomes, especially Indigenous peoples, seniors, and their families.
Jean-Yves Duclos of the federal government hailed the Dakelh and Quesnel Community Housing Society and the Quesnel Lions Housing Society for these developments.
“This is a big boost to hard working families, seniors and elders from this tight-knit community,” Duclos stated. “Our Government is investing in affordable housing in Quesnel to help create jobs and improve the quality of life for those who need it most.”
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Selina Robinson welcomed the new, much-needed additions to the market’s consistently tight supply chain.
“These much-needed homes will offer more people in Quesnel the peace of mind that comes from having a good place to call home. Our government is proud to be working in partnership with local organizations to make sure people have access to truly affordable and secure housing in the community they call home,” Robinson said.
Over the past few years, rental has become one of the province’s hottest sub-sectors, to the point where the vacancy rate fell to as low as 0.7% in 2016.
“The housing affordability and rental vacancy stats is systematically so much worse in B.C., including in the smaller communities, compared to the rest of the country,” according to David Wachsmuth of McGill University.
