The City of Mission will receive $345,952 in provincial funding to help meet new provincial legislative requirements related to housing.
In November 2023, B.C. passed legislation aimed at creating more housing, such as transit-oriented development and small-scale, multi-unit housing.
Mission City Station was listed as a transit-oriented development area — a planning approach that locates high-density, mixed-use development within walking distance from frequent transit services.
“There is an urgent need for more homes for people and we are working with local governments to build this housing faster,” Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon said in a news release. “With new housing actions to build homes in our communities, it is important that we support local governments to improve the processes to get the housing built that people in our community desperately need.”
Starting on Thursday (Jan. 18), the province will provide $51 million in grant-based funding from the 2023 budget to 188 local governments in B.C. The funding is intended to support local governments to meet the new legislated requirements.
In addition to Mission’s $345,952, the Fraser Valley Regional District is receiving $203,923.
“As the population of our province continues to grow, we’re giving local governments a hand with pressing housing needs by providing up-front funding to help transition to new housing regulations,” Abbotsford-Mission MLA Pam Alexis said. “It’s great to have so many levels of government working together towards the same goal of getting more people into homes, faster.”
According to the news release, local governments can use the funding to update housing needs reports, zoning bylaws, community plans, development cost charge and amenity cost charge bylaws. It can also be used to hire consultants and staff or complete research and community engagement as part of the transition to improve the development approvals process.
“Last year we introduced new housing regulations to help build more housing, faster in B.C.,” Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Bob D’Eith said. “Now, we’re making sure communities across the province are supported in making the changes they need to put the new regulations into place.”
The funding amounts are based on a formula that includes a flat funding amount and a per-capita amount.
READ MORE: Housing ministry lists Mission City Station for transit-oriented development