By Tan Mei Xi
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Affordable housing is within reach for British Columbians with a manageable amount of government investment, says a housing expert.

The Affordable Housing Plan produced by the BC Non-Profit Housing Association (BCNPHA) calls for an annual $1.8 billion in government investment for building affordable housing. Jill Atkey, CEO of the BC Non-Profit Housing Association, noted that the level of investment her organisation called for is “not dissimilar from the investments made over the past two years provincially and federally”.

According to the BCNPHA, in 2016 there was a backlog of 80,000 rental units and an additional 117,000 renter households that needed income assistance to afford their rent. In addition, there were at least 6,860 people across the province experiencing homelessness.

To address these issues, the BCNPHA calls for 115,000 rental units to be built before 2026; income support for renter households experiencing challenges affording their rent; and a 'housing first' approach to addressing homelessness.

According to the Plan, investments made in housing will yield significant community benefits. For example, the BCNPHA stated in the Plan that "The proposed annual investments of $81.6 million for homelessness... have the potential to save $177 million annually in other areas of spending within BC."