The City of Delta has received its proposed provincially-mandated growth target from the Ministry of Housing and the Province of British Columbia detailing the community’s need for 3,607 units over five years. Mayor George V. Harvie has written a letter to the Honourable Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing, requesting the Province’s assistance in supporting the City’s efforts to fulfill the growth target.
“Delta Council is unanimous in our support for achieving our collective goal of ensuring that everyone, regardless of need, can find a place to live,” said George V. Harvie, Mayor of Delta. “The target is only attainable if we all come together to foster an environment for housing growth across our community, with direct support from the Province to ensure we meet the mandated target. There is no doubt that Delta is in need of more housing to keep up with the demand and growth of our community and we look forward to working with the Province to achieve this goal.”
Last year, the Province of BC enacted the Housing Supply Act, enabling the Ministry of Housing to set housing targets for a number of municipalities where demand is exceeding supply. In May 2023, the City of Delta was announced as part of the first ten municipalities that would receive a provincially-mandated target.
The growth target for the City of Delta is 3,607 net new units to be created over five years. The Province has also provided a guideline to encourage a mix of studios, one-, two-, and three- plus bedroom units for rental and ownership, with rentals including market, below-market, and on-site support options. To meet the proposed housing target, the City is requesting the Province’s assistance in three key areas: Provincial Funding, Expedited Legislative Changes to Facilitate Housing, and Refined Methodology to Measure Progress.
“This is a timely opportunity to build on Delta’s existing initiatives and Mayor and Council’s bold mandate to make a tangible difference in increasing housing supply in Delta,” concluded Mayor Harvie. “With a pending application to the CMHC Housing Accelerator Fund and the upcoming launch of a RapidBus line on Scott Road, Delta is ready to make dedicated efforts at achieving more rental, below-market, and family-sized housing for our residents, with the support of the Province.”
Read the full letter from Mayor George V. Harvie to the Honourable Ravi Kahlon.
For more information on this news release, contact the Mayor’s Office at 604-946-3210 or email MayorHarvie@delta.ca.