More housing options are coming to members of Snuneymuxw First Nation young and old.
The First Nation and the provincial government announced this week that the La’lum’utul site, a new eight-unit build on Warpath Road in Cedar, is under construction. The housing will be comprised of two wood-frame fourplexes.
La’lum’utul means to care for one another, the release noted, and the new development will house families and individuals with low to moderate incomes in two-, three- and four-bedroom units. The project comes about thanks to a partnership between Snuneymuxw and the B.C. government, via B.C. Housing, and the Government of Canada, via the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Snuneymuxw will operate the facility, which is anticipated to be complete later this year. Chief Mike Wyse said in the release that the First Nation’s partnership with the National Housing Co-Investment Fund represents an important step in addressing the urgent need for housing in the Snuneymuxw community.
“We are dedicated to identifying housing solutions that meet the needs of our members and breathe life into our way of being,” he said.
The announcement is in line with a B.C. government promise, according to B.C. Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon.
”People want to have affordable housing options in their community and we’re ensuring just that … Our government is proud to work alongside Snuneymuxw First Nation on this project and we will continue to work with Indigenous partners to build on- and off-reserve housing,” the minister said in the press release.
The provincial government will contribute $1.4 million, through B.C. Housing, the press release said, while the federal government’s share will be $480,000, through the affordable housing fund. Snuneymuxw provided the land, valued at $837,000, and $312,000 came through the Canada Community Housing Initiative.
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