Our History
2008
Under the auspices of the Lower Columbia Community Development Team Society (LCCDTS), a group of interested community members began to explore the need to develop suitable, affordable and safe housing for the all members of the community, regardless of income, age and household size. After holding a community forum, the LCCDTS created an Attainable Housing committee and embarked on finding the funds to take on a housing needs study and create a strategic plan.
2012
Under the auspices of the LCCDTS, the first Lower Columbia Housing Need and Demand Study was completed, drawing on data from the 2006 census. Based on the study, the LCCDTS’ Attainable Housing Committee developed a 10-year strategic plan. That plan put the community in a good place to apply for funding that came available from BC Housing and the Columbia Basin Trust to develop new units of affordable rental housing in the Basin Region.
2013
An application submitted by the LCCDTS to BC Housing and the Columbia Basin Trust was approved and with that green light, we established the Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society (LCAHS) as a non-profit organization. We were awarded funding to purchase 9 units of existing housing, renovate the units and make them available at affordable rates to low to modest income households.
The next four years were a time of learning for us. Renovations aren’t easy! We purchased and renovated 6 units of housing (a duplex in Trail and 4-plex in Rossland). By then we realized it was better and more affordable to build new housing which we did in the form of the McQuarrie St. 4-plex in East Trail.
2018 – 2020
In the spring of 2018, the LCAHS teamed up with the City of Rossland to apply for capital funding from BC Housing and the Columbia Basin Trust to construct affordable rental workforce housing in Rossland, known as the Rossland Midtown Project. It will be situated beside the skateboard park on 3rd Avenue, close to downtown Rossland. Being a 4-storey building with housing on the top 3 floors, the planning process took a considerable period of time.
The final design, completed in December 2020, includes 37 units of one-, two- and three-bedroom units of workforce housing with a new City Hall on the ground floor.
A second opportunity for funding from BC Housing emerged later in 2018. The LCAHS received approval from BC Housing on a proposal submitted to the Community Housing Fund to construct 9 units of affordable rental housing in East Trail for families and seniors. It is known as the Columbia Park Housing project
2021
In May of 2021, construction was completed on the Columbia Park Housing project with tenants starting to move in by June 1st. This new apartment provides 9, attractive and energy efficient units in East Trail overlooking the Columbia River. The housing is located close to commercial and community services, including a large city park with multiple recreational features.
Also in May, Final Project Approval was given by BC Housing on the Rossland Midtown project with construction beginning by month end. The target for completion is October 2022 with the building ready for tenancy in November. While final details on eligibility have yet to be completed, priority will be given to households who are employed by workplaces located in Rossland.
The LCAHS entered into a new partnership with the Village of Fruitvale, submitting a proposal to BC Housing’s Community Housing Fund to construct 28 units of affordable rental housing for families, seniors and persons with disabilities. The housing is proposed to be situated on land owned by the Village adjacent to Columbia Gardens Road on a portion of the site of a former Middle School.
The green light was given by BC Housing in May, 2021 to proceed onto the more detailed project development and design phase.