The BC Greens are condemning the BC NDP’s decision to suspend the Community Housing Fund in Budget 2026, part of what the government describes as a “reallocation” of nearly $1.4 billion in housing investments. 

The move places at least 235 affordable and supportive housing units at immediate risk in Saanich North and the Islands and West Vancouver–Sea to Sky alone, including projects on Salt Spring Island, Galiano Island, and in Squamish.

“Frustrating, inconsistent, opaque.This devastating budget decision will have long-term impacts on those most vulnerable in our affordability crisis,” said Jeremy Valeriote, MLA for West Vancouver–Sea to Sky. “It sends a chill through the non-market housing sector, leaving municipalities and non-profits in limbo and undermining efforts to recover from decades of neglect.”

“At a time of urgent housing need, this abandons promised projects and puts more pressure on those who can least afford it.” said Rob Botterell, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands. “Half-built projects are losing funding, and millions in planned investment are evaporating. These unfinished buildings will stand as monuments to a promise the NDP made—and walked away from.”

Under the Cooperation and Responsible Government Accord (CARGA), the province committed to delivering 30,000 units of affordable non-market housing over four years, including 7,500 units in 2025. The Community Housing Fund was the primary vehicle to achieve those targets.

“It is now clear why Year 2 of CARGA became unworkable,” said Botterell. “Suspending the very tool designed to build those homes is not a minor adjustment—it is a retreat. You cannot claim to support affordable housing while dismantling the mechanism that delivers it.”

Since 2018, the Community Housing Fund has supported thousands of homes across British Columbia. Pausing it now jeopardizes future projects, erodes trust with community partners, and weakens the province’s housing strategy at a time when families, seniors, and workers are struggling with rising rents and housing insecurity.

Reflecting on a housing forum he hosted in Sidney on Thursday night, MLA Botterell said, “Presenters only confirmed what we all know: this budget decision is the death knell for desperately needed affordable housing in urban and rural areas of BC.”

“British Columbians were promised meaningful progress on affordable housing,” added Valeriote. “Instead, they are seeing key programs halted months after requests for proposals into the program. Now, long-standing commitments that were supposed to be funded in 2025 have had the rug pulled out from under them. At a time when families, seniors, and workers are struggling with rising rents and housing insecurity, this is exactly the wrong direction.”