B.C. affordable housing advocates welcome $500M funding, but say more could be done

A non-profit organization dedicated to helping affordable rental housing tenants on Vancouver Island says B.C. The Rental Protection Fund, billed as a way to help protect tenants from rising rents, will give non-profit housing organizations one-time grants so they can buy affordable rental buildings. William Azaroff, CEO of Brightside Community Homes Foundation, says the funding will open new doors for their organization, which owns and manages over 20 affordable housing buildings across Vancouver. Non-Profit Housing Association (BCNPHA), says there are also building owners who want to sell to non-profits specifically, to ensure housing units are affordable to tenants. But she says a right of refusal would help housing non-profits make more purchases.