Affordable Rental Housing Projects to Watch in 2026
Updated: August 2026
Finding an affordable rental home in Vancouver is not easy.
While searching for housing myself, I often find that by the time I discover a building, the units are already occupied or there is a long waiting list.
So lately, I have started looking at something different:
What affordable housing is coming next?
The City of Vancouver currently lists several non-market and affordable housing projects expected to open in 2026.
For anyone looking for more affordable rent in Vancouver, these upcoming buildings may be worth watching.
Vienna House – East Vancouver
Vienna House is located on Stainsbury Avenue in East Vancouver.
The project will provide 123 homes for individuals, families and people with disabilities.
The building includes different levels of affordability:
- 20% shelter-rate housing
- 50% Housing Income Limits units
- 30% Low End of Market units
The City of Vancouver currently lists an estimated opening date of Summer 2026.
Another interesting feature is the variety of apartment sizes. Vienna House includes studios as well as one-, two-, three- and even four-bedroom homes.
For people searching for affordable housing but needing different unit sizes, this could be an important project to watch.
981 Davie Street – Downtown Vancouver
Another large project is 981 Davie Street in downtown Vancouver.
The building will have 139 homes and is currently expected to open in Fall 2026.
Like Vienna House, it will include a mixture of shelter-rate, Housing Income Limits and Low End of Market homes.
The housing operator is Community Land Trust in partnership with McLaren Housing Society of BC.
Because it is located downtown, this project could be especially interesting for people who want access to public transportation and downtown services.
Oakridge Affordable Housing
Affordable housing is also being developed as part of the major Oakridge Centre redevelopment.
The City of Vancouver says a 22-storey affordable housing building is expected to be completed in Winter 2026.
City planning documents identify 187 affordable housing units associated with the Oakridge development.
With the Canada Line, shopping and community facilities nearby, Oakridge is one of the projects I plan to continue watching.
What About Affordable Rentals Available Right Now?
While researching upcoming buildings, I also found something useful.
The City of Vancouver’s rental housing inventory currently lists Lower End of Market Housing that people can inquire about now.
For example, Roddan Lodge at 124 Dunlevy Avenue lists studio apartments starting at $1,350 per month.
The studios are approximately 312 square feet.
However, affordable housing does not necessarily mean that everyone qualifies.
For the Roddan Lodge studio currently listed by the City, the household must have a minimum gross income of $58,000 per year, along with occupancy requirements.
This surprised me at first.
It shows how important it is to check the income requirements for each individual housing program rather than looking only at the monthly rent.
Something I Have Learned While Searching
I used to think that finding affordable housing meant waiting until an apartment became available and then applying.
Now I think it is better to start looking before the building opens.
A project that is still under construction today could become an opportunity several months from now.
The City of Vancouver also makes an important point: it does not maintain one central waiting list for these non-market housing buildings.
Applications and tenant selection are handled by the individual housing operators.
So when I find a building that interests me, I try to find out:
- Who will operate the building?
- When is it expected to open?
- What type of affordable housing will it offer?
- What are the income requirements?
- When will applications or a waiting list open?
Affordable housing in Vancouver is still very difficult to find.
But I think knowing about new projects before they open gives us a better chance than starting the search after all the units have already been filled.
I will continue checking these projects and sharing new application information when I find it.
Useful Resources
City of Vancouver – Rental Housing Inventory
City of Vancouver – Vienna House
City of Vancouver – Oakridge Centre Redevelopment