The Revelstoke Community Housing Society (RCHS) took another step towards starting a local affordable housing project during a special city council meeting before the New Year, on Thursday, Dec. 14.
The project in question was 420 Downie St., which the RCHS is looking to develop into a space that will combat Revelstoke’s affordable housing and childcare needs. The project aims to introduce 165 non-market rental units and 5,620 sq. ft. of licensed childcare space. BC Housing opened the requests for proposals in December looking for a nonprofit organization to oversee design, construction, and operation, which BCHS is eager to apply for.
The progress came when council approved the Revelstoke Community Housing Society’s request to develop a contract that would allocate an additional $100,000 to RCHS from the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP). RCHS had already received an initial grant of $100,000 in early 2023.
Last January, the City of Revelstoke applied for and later received $500,000 for REDIP.
REDIP is a forestry transition initiative that aims to provide rural communities with the economic support they need to insulate themselves from the economic impacts of a changing climate — including the slowing of forestry.
REDIP’s funds can be used for the development of serviced land, organizational capacity building, or increasing the supply of workforce housing. RCHS’s local projects address the latter of REDIP’s uses, allowing the city to use a portion of the $500,000 it received in January towards helping the society build affordable housing.
The city has granted the society with more than $200,000 during 2023, to allow the organization to continue its work on both Oscar St. And Downie St.’s developments.
RCHS’ uses of the money were outlined in a letter to council from its co-directors, Sheena Wells and Michael Brooks-Hill. It explains that nearly half of the $200,000 fund will be used to allow the society to hire a senior project coordinator who can help oversee both projects and apply to BC Housing on behalf of BCHS to manage the Downie St. Development.
The application to manage the construction and operation of the Downie St. Property must be submitted to BC Housing because it owns the land. The application is due in early February.
If the application to BC Housing is successful, RCHS would become the qualified operator of the land and would then be working closely with the city to break ground on the projects in 2024.
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