Ninety-one new affordable rental homes are coming to Richmond, partly funded by the provincial government.
An 11-unit building is currently under construction at 3699 Sexsmith Ave., and, once completed, will provide homes for families and seniors. The project is being built in partnership with More Than A Roof Housing.
Construction on the second project, at 5491 No. 2 Rd., is expected to begin in July 2021, according to the ministry. The site – built in partnership with Pathways Clubhouse and the City of Richmond – will provide 80 homes for seniors, families and individuals living independently with mental health challenges.
The two Richmond projects were announced along with 14 others on Wednesday by B.C.’s Ministry of Attorney General and Responsible for Housing. The projects will provide a total of 634 affordable homes across the province, with funding from the Building B.C. Community Housing Fund.
“These projects will mean new, affordable homes for a wide range of people – from seniors on fixed incomes to growing families and people with disabilities,” said Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing, David Eby, in a statement.
“There’s a lot more to do, and I look forward to working with the non-profit housing sector and all our partners to continue delivering the homes people need.”
The total capital costs on both projects – what the province and developer will be spending – are in the process of being finalized, according to the Ministry of Attorney General.
However, the No. 2 Road project is receiving approximately $8 million from the province’s Community Housing Fund, the ministry confirmed.
Previously, that project – first announced in 2017 – was awarded a grant from the Investment In Housing Innovation fund, but in March 2019 the funding shifted to the community fund which the ministry said was “better-suited for this type of development.”
Meanwhile, the provincial government will be putting approximately $1.1 million towards the Sexsmith Avenue project.
The ministry said that, at this time, it could not confirm who would be operating the facilities once they are complete.
