The City of Kamloops is still waiting for more details about the federal government’s $400-million top up to the Housing Accelerator Fund, as it prepares to reapply for money.
Development Director Marvin Kwiatkowski says its not clear how much the City will tweak its previous application – which was for $15.6 million to build about 400 units – after it was denied back in March with little explanation.
“We’ve been checking weekly to see if the portal is open, and its not,” he said.
“As soon as its open, we’ll put in another application and if its the same program, we may put in for the same amount, the same amount of units, the same ask, but maybe they’ll tweak the program so we may have to adjust.”
Of the 87 cities in B.C. that applied for federal funds as part of the initial $4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund only 12 made the cut, including Kelowna. The Okanagan community was the only city in the Interior that got federal help to the tune of $31.5 million.
“We felt confident but it just wasn’t meant to be, so good to hear there is another round but the dollar amount is quite a bit less,” Kwiatkowski said. “If 365 municipalities [across Canada] are applying for the same $400 million, it doesn’t leave a whole lot, but we’ll see where that goes.”
“What is not going to be happening is a lot of infrastructure upgrades because we don’t have the HAF funding,” Kwiatkowski added.
“Hopefully we’ll get some HAF funding this time, hopefully we’ll get other grants. Infrastructure Canada was looking at putting out some funding and then if there is no funding coming in, we have to look at our DCC bylaw to potentially put in more projects for infrastructure upgrades.”
Kwiatkowski also told Radio NL that the City is continuing to advocate for more funding streams at both the provincial and federal level. It is also asking the B.C. government for help so it can meet its provincially-mandated housing target of building 4,236 net new homes by September 2028.
“We’ll be advocating at UBCM, we’re going to be meeting with CMHC here in July. We’ve sent letters to the Housing Minster. We’re dealing both federally and provincially to kind of apply the pressure wherever can,” Kwiatkowski said.
“Given our location in Kamloops, we’re primed for continuing growth but some monies would be appreciated for the infrastructure.”