The Village of Daajing Giids has agreed to support the Daajing Giids Heritage Housing Society's request for up to $250,000 from the North West Regional Hospital District's Regional Benefit Account (NWRBA) to help advance affordable housing projects in the community.
Council approved the request at its July 27 meeting, subject to the project meeting the Regional Benefit Account's eligibility requirements. Mayor Lisa Pineault said staff will confirm the funding criteria with the Regional District but expects the request will comply.
In a letter to council, Heritage Housing Society president Greg Martin said the funding would support both the society's operating and capital budgets as it works to expand affordable housing in Daajing Giids. The society purchased the one-acre Pazarena property at 405 Second Ave. last year to provide rental housing and shop space for Katawa Construction during construction of the proposed Yew Wood Place development, while also securing serviced land for future housing projects.
Martin said the proposed Yew Wood Place project was originally approved for funding by BC Housing as a 17-unit, two-storey building. Since then, BC Housing has asked the society to expand the project to a three-storey, 22-unit development, requiring additional architectural and engineering work, zoning amendments and planning. Combined with rising construction costs and economic uncertainty, those changes have increased financial pressure on the organization.
According to information provided to council, the Heritage Housing societies currently own or operate 39 housing units in Daajing Giids, including Heritage House, Cedar Place, Martin Manor and Kal Naay Alder House. The proposed Yew Wood Place development would add 22 more units, including one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.