Federal government invests $150 million for affordable housing in B.C.

The federal government has announced it will invest $150 million in affordable housing in British Columbia, as real estate prices in the province continue to skyrocket.

The money will be spread out over the next two years and is part of the $2.3 billion the Liberal government pledged to spend on affordable housing in the 2016 budget.

Jean-Yves Duclos, federal minister of families, children and social development, announced the funding on Sunday with B.C. housing minister Rich Coleman outside a new development in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

"All Canadians need and deserve housing that is safe, adequate and affordable," Duclos said in a statement. "Through new investments in housing, the government is helping to strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life for families and seniors."

Duclos said the new funding includes $25.2 million for construction and repair of affordable housing for seniors and $10.9 million for the construction and renovation of shelters and transition houses for family violence victims.

He said it also includes $50.9 million to address the increasing demand for repairs as social housing units age and to improve efficiency and reduce energy and water use.

'Identify specific housing needs'

Coleman said the province is partnering with the federal government to build and renovate more affordable and supportive housing.

"We will be working with communities throughout the province to identify specific housing needs and determine where the additional funding will be distributed."

The funding announced Sunday is in addition to the $63 million joint annual funding provided by the federal and B.C. governments under the Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement.

Duclos and Coleman are set to be in Victoria on Tuesday for a forum on housing.

It comes at a time when the debate over housing affordability in B.C. has become increasingly heated. The average price of a single-family detached home in Vancouver is $1.5 million.

Premier Christy Clark said on Friday that her government will lay out a plan to address housing affordability in the coming days and weeks.

Federal working group

In a video posted to YouTube, she listed six principles the government will consider, including supporting first-time homebuyers and protecting consumers from greedy sales practices.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson recently said he wants the provincial government to co-operate with the city in collecting an empty homes tax.

Robertson said he hopes to create more rental housing instead of letting investment properties sit vacant while his city's living costs soar.

Meanwhile, the federal government has created a working group to examine housing affordability in Vancouver and Toronto.