Sarah Rieger

A $10-million grant from the federal government will build eight new affordable housing projects across rural Alberta out of shipping containers.

The first project, which will also receive provincial funding,&nbsp;will house 78 people in 33 units in Banff near the YWCA. The town&nbsp;has a vacancy rate that hovers near zero per cent.

Shipping containers being converted into staff housing in Banff

A Banff hotel company has found a unique alternative to traditional housing for its employees.

The Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts group tore down its decades-old staff housing at the Buffalo Mountain Lodge and is replacing it with an apartment complex made of shipping containers.

Banff modular housing

Banff hotel staff get shipping container housing

Edmonton's first shipping-container apartment building under construction

The developer behind Edmonton's first apartment block made entirely of shipping containers is looking to build more.

The construction site of Westgate Manor, a multi-family apartment building made of shipping containers.

Westgate Manor

Developers in Edmonton who are building an apartment building out of shipping containers  credit the modular design for the lower-cost and faster construction.

'We wanted to take it to Sea Can 2.0'

Connie MacDonald, the CEO of the Banff YWCA, said the project has been in the works for four-and-a-half years.

"What we're able to offer is something that's different in our community and something for people that have these barriers in finding affordable housing," she said.

The sustainable housing project in Banff is just the first of eight to be rolled out across Alberta over the next two years.

Banff sustainable housing

The units will rent at 20 per cent below market value when they are completed next year, and will include four suites that are built for people with accessibility needs.

MacDonald said she's lived in Banff since she was a teenager, and affordable housing has always been an issue — especially for couples and families.

"Housing has always been an issue but I can see now it's at a new level," she said.

Banff council says affordable housing a priority as homeless worker speaks out

Banff town council is promising more affordable housing in the small mountain town after a homeless tourism industry worker spoke out about being forced to spend nights in the local McDonald's.

Banff will be booming this summer as entry is free.

Banff tourism

Banff is booming this summer as entry is free, but some tourism staff are left without a place to live.

The&nbsp;Alberta Rural Development Network, the non-profit group behind the project, plans to build seven more&nbsp;projects&nbsp;over the next two years.

Joshua Bénard is the director of ARDN's sustainable housing initiative.

Joshua Bénard

"Every unit counts.&nbsp;We're talking about 467 units to start and we're also talking about creating a model that other groups can take and replicate on their own," said&nbsp;Joshua Bénard, director of ARDN's sustainable housing initiative.

The group is developing a toolkit to guide governments and community groups to develop, build and manage similar affordable housing projects based on the eight developments.

The housing projects will have a variety of owner models, including ones managed by private developers, non-profits and local governments.&nbsp;

A rendering shows the YWCA Banff Courtyard Project, which will house up to 78 people in units built from shipping containers.

$10-million grant to fund affordable shipping-container homes across rural Alberta

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