Federal aid needed for refugee housing in Richmond, says councillor

A Richmond city councillor thinks federal support for refugee and asylum seekers will help solve overcrowding in a local shelter.

Coun. Carol Day is putting forward a motion at Monday's committee meeting asking the federal government to either provide temporary housing for refugee and asylum seekers or pay the city to use its facilities.

According to background information submitted by Day, around 32.5 per cent of beds at Richmond House Emergency Shelter in Ironwood are occupied by refugees and asylum seekers and there is an average of 20 homeless people on a waiting list "every night."

Data from the Salvation Army, which operates the shelter, shows 201 refugees were admitted in 2023, around 31.8 per cent of its total admissions of 632.

The shelter is funded by BC Housing and the City of Richmond and offers 20 beds for homeless men and 10 for homeless women. 

When the Richmond News inquired about the length of the waiting list, a representative from Richmond House said she was unable to provide a number, but said the waiting list for regular beds fluctuates week by week.

"The Salvation Army is required by BC Housing to accept anyone who comes through the door even though refugees and asylum seekers are a federal responsibility," Day wrote.

"Council should write the federal government and appropriate Ministers to ask them to provide temporary housing and services for refugees and asylum seekers to give relief from the overcrowded Richmond Shelter and allow Richmondites to access our local shelter."

According to the Point in Time count released in October 2023, the city saw a 91 per cent increase in homelessness between 2020 and 2023 from 85 people to 162. In 2023, there were 80 people staying outside of emergency shelters in makeshift shelters, cars or vacant buildings.

Day also proposed potential options, which include renting hotel space, renting houses that can house multiple clients or building modular housing on YVR or Musqueam land.

The motion came after Day worked on the issue with Salvation Army managers and the homeless outreach task force, as well as Coun. Bill McNulty, MLA Henry Yao and MPs Wilson Miao and Parm Bains.

- With files from Maria Rantanen.

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