Reflecting on 2025 and "kicking off" new growth for 2026.
2025: A Year of Growth, Impact, and Momentum
This year, we look back on a period of change, growth, and meaningful progress, one where the Rental Protection Fund continued expanding its reach into new communities, protecting affordability and securing homes for renters across British Columbia.
- In 2025, the Fund’s impact grew significantly, reaching new milestones:
- Nearly 4,000 more renters with stable, affordable housing
- Securing rents 44% below local market rates
- Expanded to 34 community housing partners
- 22 communities reached across B.C.
- Over $24M invested in capital upgrades and repairs through renewal grants
These figures represent much more than transactions—they reflect stability, security, and opportunity for thousands of British Columbians.
Explore many more ways that the Fund is making an impact in communities across B.C. here.
2025 Milestones
New Year, New Opportunities
The Rental protection Fund began the year by launching the Tenant Policy Atlas, the first comprehensive database of tenant-focused policies across B.C. It quickly became a go-to resource for non-profits, local governments, and researchers working to understand how tenant protections vary across the province.
In January, the Fund also hosted federal and municipal officials at a recent acquisition in New Westminster. The tour highlighted the work that New Hope Community Services is already doing to support both newcomers and existing residents, including installing a higher-efficiency boiler to improve comfort and reduce long-term operating costs.
As the spring progressed, the Fund rolled out new tools through its Strategic Housing Acquisition Platform (SHARP) — supporting pre-qualified organizations in identifying a strategic match between their acquisition goals and local housing needs. We also deepened national collaboration by participating in the Federal Government’s call for applications to launch the Canada Rental Protection Fund, building on our leadership in the acquisition and affordable housing space.
Impactful Acquisitions Across the Province
As summer approached, the Fund celebrated new acquisitions from Vancouver to Fort St. John, properties that demonstrated the power of partnership and the impact that protection can have in communities of all sizes.
Kamloops: A Community Celebration
Connective’s acquisition of a 25-unit property in Kamloops ensured homes remained affordable in a rapidly growing region. Community members and partners gathered at the property's beautiful yard overlooking the Thompson River to mark the occasion and highlight the importance of preserving existing rental stock before it’s lost to speculative pressures.
Vancouver: Protecting Affordability in Kerrisdale
In Vancouver’s Kerrisdale neighbourhood, the New Vista Society acquired dozens of homes and matched the Fund’s investment dollar for dollar—a powerful signal of the community housing sector’s support for investments in long-term rental protection.
These homes will remain accessible in one of the city's least affordable neighbourhoods, where average rents have long exceeded what most working families and seniors can afford.
Chilliwack: The Fund’s First High-rise Acquisition
In Chilliwack, Affordable Housing Societies secured an 85-unit high-rise property, marking the Fund’s single largest purpose-built rental acquisition to date. For the many seniors and long-time residents living there, the investment ensures continued stability and deep for years to come.
Northern Expansion: Prince George and Fort St. John
This year, the Fund expanded into northern B.C. for the first time.
- More Than A Roof acquired a 21-unit building in Prince George, protecting affordability in a region experiencing sustained population and employment growth.
- In Fort St. John, Connective protected two rare, family-oriented rental properties, ensuring they remain available to local households for years to come.
Penticton: Tenant-led Change
In Penticton, when a 14-unit building went up for sale, renters—including retirees, workers, and tenants on disability support—faced the real risk of displacement. They reached out to the Fund directly, sparking a collaborative effort with the Penticton and District Society for Community Living (PDSCL). Together, we secured long-term affordability at more than 40% below local market rents.
One tenant shared:
“I have lived here for the past eight years, and prior to PDSCL acquiring the property, the uncertainty and constant worry about potentially having to move — or paying one-third or more for rent elsewhere in the city — was extremely unsettling. Being on a limited income, such a change would have had a seriously negative impact on my financial stability.”
Richmond: Partnering for Change
In the Lower Mainland, the Fund supported its first acquisition in the City of Richmond, where renters have long faced some of the lowest vacancy rates in Canada. Through a unique partnership between the Fund, Tikva Housing, and the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, 45 homes will remain affordable for the long-term.
As CEO Katie Maslechko shared:
“By leveraging public investment to unlock private & philanthropic partnerships like this, we can transform housing from a commodity into a catalyst for community-driven solutions, multiplying the impact of every dollar invested through the Rental Protection Fund for decades to come.”
Protecting these homes is made possible through dedicated partnerships with non-profit housing providers in every corner of the province. Across all these acquisitions, one theme stands out: timing is everything. Once at-risk rental stock hits the market, the window to preserve it is small. The Fund’s ability to act quickly remains one of its greatest strengths—and a cornerstone of our model.
Growing our Reach and our Team
This fall, we welcomed two new team members as we continue to scale our work:
- Ranjeet Chugh, Portfolio Director, Asset Stewardship & Strategy
- Sheliza Thobani, Communications Manager
Ranjeet leads the Fund’s approach to sustaining and enhancing affordability over the long term, while Sheliza is shaping how we share our work, stories, and impact. Their expertise strengthens our ability to meet the needs of partners, governments, and communities province-wide.
We also launched a refreshed website, designed to make it easier for non-profits, policymakers, and the public to understand how the Fund works and explore its impact. A redesigned Impact section now showcases data, testimonials, and stories from across the province.
Sharing Our Impact Across Canada
In 2025, the Fund shared its story on national stages—from media features to conferences to cross-sectoral forums.
In the Media
We were featured in:
- The Globe & Mail
- CBC’s The National
- Radio-Canada’s Le Téléjournal 22h
- Commercial Real Estate Podcast
- Esri’s Geographical Thinking podcast
These opportunities provided a platform for the Fund to share our work with audiences across Canada and beyond.
Engaging Dialogues
Our team presented at conferences, sharing insights from nearly two years of acquisitions and the ways the Fund has shifted the rental market in B.C. These conversations are helping to shape national policy discussions, build sector capacity, and deepen understanding of the preservation landscape.
Looking Ahead
2026 is already shaping up to be a year of dynamism and opportunity. In the months ahead, we will release our 2025 Impact Report, highlighting how our values are reflected in each investment, how acquisitions support tenant stability, and how preservation strengthens the community housing sector across British Columbia.
Looking further ahead, we remain optimistic that the B.C. Rental Protection Fund will soon be investing alongside the Canada Rental Protection Fund, multiplying the impact of public investments and helping scale rental protection nationwide.
At its core, our work is about renters being able to stay in their homes, plan for the future, and remain connected to their communities. As we look ahead to 2026, that focus continues to guide every decision the Fund makes, with progress made possible through the resilience of the community housing sector and strength our partnerships across the province. We remain committed to protecting existing affordability and advancing long-term housing stability for renters in communities throughout British Columbia for years to come.
