NEW ASSESSMENT CLASS BENEFITS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

Class 3 - Supportive Housing - funded and identified by the provincial government, a property which combines on-site support services with housing for persons who were previously homeless, at risk of homelessness, have mental or physical disabilities, or who are recovering drugs or alcohol addictions. (New class introduced in 2008).

VICTORIA – Kevin Krueger, Small Business and Revenue Minister and Minister responsible for BC Assessment, announced property tax relief for non-profit societies to help address housing challenges for the most vulnerable British Columbians. “This government is committed to building the best system of supports for British Columbians,” said Krueger. “The creation of a new supportive housing assessment class is one more way we are demonstrating that commitment.” The relief applies to 67 supportive housing properties located throughout the province and is based on recent amendments to provincial legislation and regulations. The legislative amendment under the Assessment Act created a new supportive housing assessment class to provide property tax relief by reducing property assessment values to a nominal value. The Ministry of Small Business and Revenue worked in consultation with the Ministry of Housing and Social Development, BC Housing and BC Assessment to identify properties eligible for the initial designations for the 2009 Assessment Roll. In subsequent years, the Ministry of Housing and Social Development will be responsible for identifying eligible supportive housing properties for designation.

In order to be considered for designation under the proposed new assessment class, properties must be provincially funded to provide supportive housing, including on-site support services for persons who were previously homeless, at risk of homelessness, have mental or physical disabilities, or have or are recovering from drug or alcohol addictions. The amendments will take effect for the 2009 assessment year. For more information regarding the requirements to be designated as a supportive housing property, please go to www.housing.gov.bc.ca/housing/supportivehousing.htm or contact the Office of Housing and Construction Standards at 250 356-6633.For more information regarding the implementation of the classification and assessment of Class 3 - Supportive Housing properties, please contact the Property Assessment branch of the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue at 250 356-7535. To call toll-free, please use Enquiry BC at 1 800 663-7867.

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A BC Assessment fact sheet with more information on the new classification for supportive housing is available here. Each year, the provincial Cabinet will approve the
eligible supportive housing properties. For more information about supportive housing properties, consult Order in Council 541/2008, which was deposited June 27, 2008.

There are 3 properties with a 20 assessment code for Vernon:

• 20-233-01365000 ($1,187,000)
  
• 20-233-01399000 ($380,600)
  
• 20-233-03596000 ($965,000)