Housing Secretariat: Overview
The Housing Secretariat was established in May 2007 by the Capital Regional District Board in response to the recommendations of the Regional Housing Affordability Strategy (RHAS). The Secretariat has a mandate to develop a coordinated approach within the Region to increase the supply of affordable housing by identifying how municipalities, funding agencies and the non-profit sector can work together to meet the housing needs of our most vulnerable citizens.
Regional Housing Affordability Strategies (RHAS)
The Housing Secretariat utilizes the first four of the five RHAS strategies to accomplish this mandate:
- Secure more funding for non-market and low end of market housing
- Establish and enhance pro-affordability local government policies and regulations across the Region
- Facilitate community-based affordability partnerships and initiatives
- Build neighbourhood-level support for housing affordability
- Expand the scope of the Victoria Homelessness Community Plan to the Region as a whole
The Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness, established in 2008, will take the lead on work required to reduce and eliminate homelessness in the Capital Regional District.
The Housing Secretariat also acts as Administrator of the Regional Housing Trust Fund and participates on several local committees aimed at increasing the supply of affordable housing in the CRD.
Community Development
The Housing Secretariat facilitates the development of partnerships between non-profit housing organizations and private property owners and developers, and provides information around funding opportunities.
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