Nearly 100 new rental homes are coming for middle-income individuals, couples and families in Fernie and Nelson through BC Builds housing projects.

BC Builds, launched in February, fast-tracks delivery of homes for people with middle incomes by leveraging government-, community- and non-profit-owned and underused land through government funding and financing.

Through BC Builds, 44 rental homes are planned for singles, couples and families in Fernie. Fifty-five rental homes targeted for middle-income individuals, specifically those working in organizations affiliated with the local chamber of commerce, are coming to Nelson.

The five-storey project in Fernie will be located on city-owned land at 692-3rd Avenue, the site of the old Fernie Fire Department station. The building will be owned and operated by Elk Valley Family Society, an experienced non-profit housing operator in the region.

“The City of Fernie is excited to work with our exceptional partners, the Elk Valley Family Society, and the BC Builds and BC Housing teams. The proposed project will help address a critical gap in the housing supply. We look forward to offering these new housing options to our residents,” stated City of Fernie Mayor Nic Milligan.

“Elk Valley Family Society is delighted to work with the City of Fernie, BC Builds and BC Housing on this exciting project. Fernie is not unique in its need for housing, and we are thrilled to be a part of that solution,” added Katey Taylor, executive director for Elk Valley Family Society.

The six-storey project in Nelson will be at 91 Baker St. on land owned by the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce. Once complete, the building will be owned and operated by Railtown Housing Society, which was created by the chamber specifically for this project to address the need for local workforce housing.

Both projects are in the design phase and subject to municipal permitting. Further details, including construction timelines and BC Builds funding, will be made available once finalized.

“Working people like teachers, nurses and construction workers are the backbone of our local economies, and they’ve been squeezed by the same housing challenges others are facing in the Kootenays and across the province,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing.

“That’s why our government is taking action to deliver more housing of all kinds throughout B.C. through innovative programs like BC Builds, which is fast-tracking construction of thousands of rental homes just like these for middle-income families.”

BC Builds works in partnership with non-profit groups, local governments, First Nations and the development sector to identify available underused land, provide financing and funding, and deliver projects that create more homes and help bring costs more in line with what households with middle incomes earn.

All BC Builds units have a target of households with middle incomes spending no more than approximately 30% of their income on rent.

In addition, at least 20% of units at these BC Builds projects will have rents at least 20% below market rate.

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