Description

The RHF is available to non-profit organizations including registered charities and for-profit organizations who intend to develop permanent, affordable, subsidized or supportive housing in the Cowichan Valley.

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The RHF is intended to assist qualified proponents in developing permanent, affordable, subsidized or supportive housing by providing funds to conduct pre-development work required to obtain project development approvals and funding.

 

Eligible Activities

Include but are not limited to:​

• Professional appraisals

• Site surveys

• Environmental and Geotechnical Soils Reports

• Local government fees and costs for rezoning, bylaw amendments, development, and building permits/agreements

• Architectural design costs and fees to obtain rezoning, bylaw amendments, development and building permits

• Civil, Topographical, Landscape, Traffic, Development Consulting costs and fees to obtain rezoning, bylaw amendments, development and building permits

• Construction management costs and fees

• Legal and accounting costs and fees to obtain rezoning, bylaw amendments, development and building permits

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Ineligible Activities

Construction, demolitions, renovations, or repairs to an existing building.

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Application Process:

• The proponent provides a Letter of Intent (LOI) to CHA Executive Director.

• The LOI will include:

  1. summary of the proposed permanent rental housing development,

  2. number and size of units being contemplated,

  3. potential impact of the development to address regional and local housing needs,

  4. proponent experience in developing similar projects,

  5. proposed development financing sources and amounts, and

  6. details of land ownership.

• CHA Executive Director reviews the completed LOI and determines if the proponent will be offered the opportunity to proceed with a proposal.

• Successful proponent will provide a completed proposal to CHA Executive Director which must demonstrate:

1. The proponent is in good standing and has a strong track record addressing community needs.

2. The proponent must demonstrate functional capacity to deliver the development for which funding is sought.

3. The proposed development is more than five units.

4. Proponents with other funding sources (internal or in-kind contributions, CMHC seed funding, BC Housing pre-development funding, etc.) will be regarded positively.

• CHA Executive Director presents the completed RHF proposal to the CHA Executive Committee who will: (a) approve the proposal; (b) request further information from the proposal; or (c) decline the proposal

• If approved, CHA Executive Director will present a proposal to the CVRD Board for approval of funds disbursement. ​​​​​​