BIRCH has been given the disappointing but not completely unexpected news that BC Housing is at this time unable to fund our rental housing project in Snug Cove. While we are disappointed, this is by no means the end of the project and we are encouraged by the priorities reflected in the BCH funding decisions.

We and our development consultants have been in communication with our representatives from the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) regarding their National Co-Investment
Fund
. Through this process, we have ensured that our building’s design meets or exceeds the requirements of that program, and we will be working with them on our application to that fund.

We will also be pursuing funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipality’s Green Municipal Fund as we work to ensure that this vital project is built and built as soon as possible.

BIRCH is grateful to BC Housing, CMHC, the VanCity Foundation, and of course to the Bowen Island Municipality for their support to date, and we look forward to sharing with you some good news in the not-too-distant future.

We are especially grateful to the Bowen Island Community Foundation for their recent grant of $15,000 in project funding that will support us in the coming months to pursue these further funding options.

Thank you for your continued encouragement, and ongoing support.