In the coming years, the City of Burnaby plans to create significantly more affordable market and rental housing projects through a proposed Burnaby Housing Authority (BHA).  

The BHA, a municipal housing corporation, would focus on areas of housing needs and gaps and develop purpose-built, below-market home ownership and rental units.  

The BHA activities would include: 

• acquiring lands and units; 
• developing new units, acting like a private housing developer; 
• partnering with developers to ensure new units are affordable; 
• operating units and administering non-market units; and 
• contributing to the development of affordable housing through collaboration, not competition.  

Burnaby considers below-market housing to be housing costs that make up no more than 30 per cent of a household’s gross income.  

The BHA builds on Burnaby’s previous engagement work through Your Voice, Your Home, the Mayor’s Task Force on Community Housing, the Housing Needs Report, and Burnaby’s Housing and Homeless Strategy.  

Burnaby will require the approval of the provincial Inspector of Municipalities. 

Burnaby council will appoint a BHA board of directors, comprising subject matter experts and representatives from real estate development, real estate law and financing, construction management, housing operations and non-market housing administration, those with lived experience in non-market housing, and local Indigenous group representatives and housing providers. 

Burnaby currently has the resources needed without seeking funds from taxpayers. Funding will come from the Community Benefit Bonus Program.  

• Whistler Housing Authority aims to provide work force housing, including an employee housing ownership program.  
• Surrey City Development Corporation, a real estate development firm providing new, diverse housing options.  
• Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation provides housing to diverse, mixed-income communities that include families, seniors, and people with disabilities. 
• BC Housing provides a wide range of subsidized housing across the province.

This autumn Burnaby will be seeking input on how to best establish the BHA. We’ll keep you posted.

The BHA will be implemented in phases. 

Pre-Planning: Research and Engagement Framework 

Status: In-Progress. Summer 2023 

Phase 1: Elements 

Burnaby would share information, seek feedback on the BHA mandate, scope, tools, structure, and governance. September 2023 

Phase 2: Creation 

Burnaby would submit a business plan and draft articles of incorporation to the provincial Inspector of Municipalities to seek approval to create the BHA. November 2023 

Phase 3: Launch 

Burnaby would incorporate the BHA and prepare a Partnering Agreement, outlining: 

• the assistance Burnaby would provide to the BHA (funding, lands); and 
• the services the BHA would provide on behalf of Burnaby. 

Burnaby would approve the BHA’s initial operating budget. Council would appoint the BHA’s Board of Directors. Status: 2024 

Phase 4: Start-Up 

The BHA would: 

• find office space; 
• hire a CEO and staff; and 
• create a strategic Plan and Financial Plan; BHA’s mission, vision and values. 

The BHA would define their: 

• land requirements; 
• unit and affordability targets; and 
• success metrics. 

Status: Late 2024 

Phase 5: Growth 

The BHA would: 

• acquire sites; 
• develop projects; 
• operate units; 
• administer their housing portfolio; and 
• report back to Council on progress.  
  

Learn more about the proposed Burnaby Housing Authority.