The Power of Partnerships: BC Builds Program

BC Housing develops, manages, and administers a diverse array of subsidized housing options throughout the province. It collaborates with the ministry responsible for housing to tackle essential gaps across the housing continuum, spanning from emergency shelter and rent assistance in the private market to affordable homeownership. Additionally, BC Housing licenses residential builders, administers owner builder authorizations, and conducts research and education initiatives beneficial to both the residential construction industry and consumers. Collaborating with approximately 800 housing providers, BC Housing extends aid to over 110,000 households in communities across British Columbia.

Rising to meet the challenge of building homes that middle-income households can afford requires a collaborative effort. The province’s new BC Builds program works in partnership with non-profits, local governments, First Nations, and the construction sector to identify available underused land, providing low-cost financing and funding, and quickly deliver projects that create more rental homes affordable for middle-income households and help bring rents more in line with their earnings. Lisa Helps will explain how this initiative is designed to address current obstacles to developing rental housing, such as inflation, the cost of land, the cost of construction, and high interest rates, leveraging the power of partnerships across the sector.

Who should attend?

Non profit Organizations, Local governments, First Nations, Housing providers, Land owners (Public, Non-profit, First Nations, Community), Construction sector

What will you learn?

• Understand how BC Builds is addressing key barriers to developing new affordable housing
• How BC Builds works: Identifying low-cost land for development
• See what opportunities BC Builds will provide for middle income earners like teachers, nurses, transit operators, and non-profit worker
• Identify development opportunities for government, non-profit, First Nations, and community landowners
• Understand funding opportunities for Non-Profit, First Nations and private developers and housing operators
• Familiarize with current BC Builds development projects

Meet the Presenter

Lisa Helps

Executive Lead, BC Builds Project Origination

Lisa currently serves as the Executive Lead for BC Builds Project Origination and Process Innovation at BC Housing. Previously, she held the position of Housing Solutions Advisor to Premier Eby during the launch of BC Builds, a novel housing program utilizing public land, low-cost financing, and other innovative mechanisms to expedite housing construction for the workforce in British Columbia. Prior to her role as an advisor, she served two terms as Mayor of Victoria, British Columbia. As Mayor, Lisa diligently fostered extensive collaboration within the community to prepare Victoria for the future and established connections across the province. Moreover, she served as Co-Chair of the BC Urban Mayors Caucus, facilitating cooperation to advance common objectives for cities. Her areas of focus encompassed economic development and prosperity, housing, climate action, resilient infrastructure, and reconciliation efforts.