Storeys, an innovative 129 unit affordable rental housing development in Richmond, complete with on-site supportive services, opened Friday morning.
The non-profit owned and operated units and supportive services are now available to help some of the most vulnerable people in Richmond.
Storeys, at 8111 Granville Avenue/8080 Anderson Road in Richmond’s City Centre, is the result of a unique partnership between all three levels of government and a consortium of five non-profit organizations comprising Coast Mental Health, Pathways Clubhouse, S.U.C.C.E.S.S., Tikva Housing Society and Turning Point Recovery Society.
In addition to rental units, Storeys provides critical supportive services, programming and administrative space to further support tenants in achieving housing stability and life skills.
The combination of partners and supportive services will allow a variety of vulnerable groups to be served, including low-income families and seniors, and individuals with mental health and addictions issues.
Brenda Plant, executive director of Turning Point Housing Society and non-profit consortium representative, said, “The five non-profit housing providers that worked together on this innovative and unique collaborative effort to address the affordable housing needs of Richmond’s most vulnerable citizens are thrilled to be here today celebrating the opening of Storeys.
“Storeys has demonstrated what partnerships can achieve in the non-profit housing sector. On behalf of the consortium, I would like to express our gratitude to the City of Richmond and to the provincial and federal governments for their leadership and support in the development of Storeys.
“We are deeply grateful for the diligence and patience of the development team that worked with us to bring our vision for safe, affordable housing into being – a place for those we serve to call home.”
The development’s name, Storeys, represents the diverse backgrounds of the people who will call the building home.
The name suggests that every resident living in the building comes with a story and that new and inspiring stories will be written within the walls of the development.
For the non-profit consortium, the City of Richmond, the provincial and federal governments and others involved with the project, the name Storeys sets the stage for each to tell their stories of unprecedented collaboration in a commitment to affordable housing.
The building is also home to Storeys Café, a social-purpose café that generates revenues to be re-invested into supportive housing.
The café is open to the public to enjoy specialty coffee and a bite to eat from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Project partners and funding included:
• The City of Richmond provided a capital contribution of approximately $19.4 million and the long term lease of city-owned land.
• The Governments of Canada and B.C. provided approximately $3.1 million through the federal-provincial Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement.
• The B.C. Government provided interim construction financing of approximately $30.7 million.
• The project received a Homelessness Partnering Strategy grant of approximately $2.2 million.
• The non-profit consortium is responsible for the ownership and management of the building and provided approximately $1.95 million for the construction of the project.
