Frequently Asked Questions
Our housing projects are funded through construction mortgage financing and are subject to standard interest rates through BC Housing. Our projects are constructed in a similar fashion as any large scale construction project, which means we have faced the same challenges with increased labour and material costs across the construction industry.
As the Sunshine Coast Affordable Housing Society does not receive ongoing funding, our mortgages must be paid through the rent we collect. Rents have been calculated based on meeting our mortgage payments and the operational costs of the building. As we are a non-profit society, no members of our organization are legally allowed to benefit financially from this project. All income generated from this project stays within the operational budget of Shaw Road.
How are the rents determined?
Please use this link to apply. Unfortunately due to the volume of applications we are anticipating we will only be able to accept applications through our web application.
Only applications submitted through the online form will be accepted and reviewed. Applications through any other medium (such as email) will not be reviewed.
How do I apply?
Applications will be reviewed by a tenant selection committee made up of members of our organization and the community. We use a fair scoring system that will allow us to short-list our applicants. Only those who have been shortlisted will be contacted for further information.
How are applications reviewed?
Do I need to be a resident of the Sunshine Coast?
Yes. All applications will be screened to ensure that applicants are currently residents of the Sunshine Coast or were prior residents within the last five years who moved due to a lack of housing. Residency exceptions may be made for essential workers that our community is in need of (ie Family Doctors).
Can I include letters of reference or have people reach out to you on my behalf?
Unfortunately, we will not accept letters of reference during the initial application. Only applicants who are shortlisted will be asked for references.
No. To ensure that decisions are fair and unbiased, members and staff of the Sunshine Coast Affordable Housing Society will not be commenting or assisting applicants that they know.
Applicants who reach out directly to staff or board members may, in fact, jeopardize their chances of obtaining a unit by putting members in a biased situation when reviewing the applications.
Is there anything additional I can do to help my application such as volunteering or reaching out to members I know?
What is a “Mixed Income Model”?
The Shaw Road project utilizes a mixed-income model. This means that there are various rental rates within the building to ensure that members of the community can access affordable housing.
This approach also enables the building to function without ongoing operational funding from BC Housing. As the Sunshine Coast Affordable Housing Society is a self-funded non-profit, we secure loans to construct our projects. This enables us to manage our mortgage payments while still keeping the rents low for our affordable units.
How many units are classified as affordable?
There are three rental rates within Shaw Road. Median Market Rent is determined by the Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation:
65% of Median Market Rent
79% of Median Market Rent
85% of Median Market Rent
Over time, the overall affordability of the project will increase. This is because, as a non-profit organization, our focus is on meeting our loan obligations rather than increasing rent over time to maximize profits.
Our Franklin Road Project, which opened in 2021 with two affordable units and one market rent unit, serves as an example. As we did not significantly raise the rent on the market rent unit over time, it is now classified as an affordable unit. As members of the community, our goal is to establish Shaw Road as a long-term pillar of affordable housing on the Sunshine Coast.