John Horn, executive director of the Cowichan Housing Association, said right off the top that $250,000 in operating funding and another $500,000 in capital funding budgeted by the Cowichan Valley Regional District to support affordable housing initiatives, doesn’t sound like a lot.
“It’s not enough to buy much affordable housing, as you can imagine,” he told participants in an hour long presentation, hosted by the Chemainus Residents’ Association on Zoom April 8. “I think $500,000 is one or two units in today’s market. So it’s really about participating in broader and bigger building schemes.”
But then he went on to describe how the CHA is leveraging its funding to make low-cost housing solutions available to the homeless and people for who have a place to live, but are facing ‘rent stress’.
“John Horn has offered many ideas for tackling the housing affordability challenge,” said CRA Chair Bernie Jones after the session. “The Chemainus Residents’ Association will be digesting John’s ideas to see what we can possibly do to address the problem.”
The 36 minute video above captures the key points made during the meeting.
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