Explain the continuum and where we do the majority of our work (ending homelessness strategy mostly)

A visual – obviously don’t need to go through all of these!

What is “Affordable” Housing? Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation and B.C. Housing “no one should pay more than 30 per cent of household income on housing” Median after-tax income of a Comox Valley household is: $56,286 Rents should be in the $900-$1400 range Median after-tax income of a Comox Valley one person household $36,138 Rents should be in the $550-$900 range Income assistance amount for housing: $375/mo Consider the transportation costs of living further away from services Craigslist test: search for a 2 or 3 bedroom unit in the Comox Valley

DEFINE AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Get to know and work with local service agencies who want to build supportive/transitional housing Be proactive and ‘shovel ready’ for provincial and federal housing funding announcements Build a range of housing options to suit varying needs of the vulnerable populations

Design, propose a range of rental housing options such as apartment buildings, co-ops, secondary suites, seniors rentals etc Look at densification, proximity to services, and public transportation or bike/walking routes Support the conversion of older hotels/motels to housing units Advocate for provincial regulatory change on tiny homes Work with NIC to build student residences Develop demolition control policies on existing rentals so as not to lose current rental stock

Help us to advocate for the change of re-zoning requirements and other unnecessary regulations for carriage, laneway, garden suites, minimum unit size requirements, parking requirements etc Consider densification, proximity to services, and public transportation or bike/walking routes Respond to community need for a range of housing options including housing co-ops, secondary suites, tiny homes etc Ensure high density developments reserve a certain % of units for affordable housing, or contribute a similar dollar value to a an affordable housing reserve fund

Offset NIMBYism by standing up for/working to develop affordable housing initiatives and understanding how they help to strengthen the health of a community Meet with, develop relationships and provide information with neighbours when developing affordable housing projects Ask for incentives to offer a wide range of housing solutions

Comox Valley Transition Society worked with a developer to build a 4plex of housing downtown Courtenay for women and children fleeing domestic violence Amethyst House - 2 units of housing at Amethyst House for women transitioning from recovery, with another 4 units proposed for 2018-19 Muchulat Construction working on modular housing for 46 units of supportive housing in Courtenay in partnership with BC Housing, City of Courtenay and John Howard Society M’akola developing Braidwood – 34 units of affordable rental suites in Courtenay in partnership with Wachiay Friendship Centre, City of Courtenay and BC Housing

WORK WITH US! Attend monthly Coalition meetings Become an advisory member of the Coalition Join our mailing list to keep up-to-date on local, provincial, and federal funding initiatives to build housing

5 Year Plan, PiT Report, Meeting Minutes etc can be found on our website