Residents will soon have a clearer picture of tenant requirements for the BC Builds housing development at 1180 Sun Peaks Rd. The 110 unit housing development, supported through the BC Builds program and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), is expected to offer roughly 33 affordable units for locals and employees of Sun Peaks businesses.
Jessie Abraham, housing manager, updated council on the progress of the development, providing an estimated summer 2027 completion.
“Move-ins would start shortly after that through the fall,” she said.
While the exact cost of the affordable units is not yet public, those with lower incomes will be able to apply for below market rent at 80 per cent.
Per BC Builds income requirements for singles and couples, households must earn under $143,000 annually to qualify for studio and one bedroom units, and the income cap for folks with dependents is $212,240. There is no minimum income requirement.
While BC Builds sets the income requirements, the Sun Peaks Housing Authority is responsible for establishing eligibility criteria.
To come up with this criteria, the housing authority looked to similar employee developments in Whistler, Squamish, Tofino, Canmore and Breckenridge.
The authority proposes that individuals be employed by a Sun Peaks business, working at least 26 hours per week, for a minimum of eight months out of the year. This does not apply to spouses of applicants.
Self-employed applicants must earn 75 per cent or more of their income locally, hold a valid business licence and operate from a Sun Peaks-based address.
Exemptions include retirees and persons receiving a disability pension who are unable to work but previously lived or worked in Sun Peaks.
To govern and administer requirements for the BC Builds project and future rental housing in Sun Peaks, the municipality will need an employee housing policy
The following additional requirements would be defined by the Sun Peaks Housing Authority’s tenant selection policy.
According to these requirements, units must be occupied as a primary residence and subletting is not permitted. The selection process would give preference to those who have lived in Sun Peaks for at least six months, with second priority given to residents of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
“Our hope is that we have a criteria to share with the community by the fall and with businesses as well, so that we know which employees qualify for housing in the community,” Abraham said.
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