Indigenous people in Sooke now have more affordable housing options

Indigenous families, elders and people now have access to 75 below-market homes, with the opening of a new purpose-built rental building this past October.

BC Housing provided approximately $5.6 million for the project; $4.5 million through the Provincial Investment in Affordable Housing and $1.1 million from the Investing in Housing Innovation Fund. Other sources of funding for the project include the M’akola Housing Society, which provided more than $5 million in equity as well as the capital region’s investment of $330,000.

The Charters Road housing project is the result of a partnership between the province, the federal government, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Capital Regional District, and M’akola Housing Society. It is also a clear manifestation of the central aim of the Stronger BC for Everyone plan, which is “that B.C. be a place where everyone has a home and community.”

The project will prioritize Indigenous individuals, seniors and families for the homes but non-Indigenous residents are also welcome. The building is also pet-friendly and allows residents to have cats and small dogs.

“These affordable homes are a tremendous help to people who are already struggling to get by,” said Ravi Parmar, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca. “Affordable Indigenous housing is needed all over the province. We are grateful to partners involved for bringing these homes to Sooke, so people can stay in the community they call home.”

For Kevin Albers, CEO of the M’akola Housing Society, “the availability of Indigenous affordable housing is crucial for the well-being of families and communities. It provides a sense of security and stability, which is essential for people and communities to thrive.”

M’akola is the largest affordable housing provider in BC and serves 5,000 members. 

The new four-storey apartment building, designed by architects de Hoog and Kieruf, is a modular concrete and wood construction with a mix of configurations including studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Thirteen of these units are offered at the provincial shelter rate for people with very low incomes. It also has eight accessible housing spaces and is 400 metres from public transit

In addition to the provision of affordable housing, the project also brings improvements to local infrastructure. Sooke Mayor Maja Tait, explained that “the supporting infrastructure contributions being made through this project are helping us add a critical pedestrian corridor, impacting not only the residents living at 2170 Charters Road, but so many more in our community.”

Ravi Kahlon, the minister of housing, also added that “these new homes will not only provide safe places for them to live in, but also enable them to participate fully in the community without having to worry about very high rents.”