$9.1M funding boost for affordable rentals in Steveston

DAISY XIONG

dxiong@richmond-news com

Richmond has received $9 1 million in federal funding to build a new affordable rental housing project in Steveston

The project will provide 25 units 10 two-bedroom units and 15 studios to low-income women and women with children who face challenges in find housing

The funding will cover the construction costs of a threestory building on city-owned land at Steveston Highway and Railway Avenue

If the rezoning application to turn the land from single-family use to multi-family use is approved by city

City centre child care centre opens

A new child care centre has opened in Richmond’s Oval Village neighbourhood, one year later than expected

The Hummingbird Child Care Centre, at 6899 Pearson Way by River Road, will provide 37 new licensed child-care spaces for infants, toddlers and children up to school age

The facility was originally expected to be ready by spring 2022, but it experienced construction delays as well as supply and trade challenges after the pandemic council in the fall, the project is set to be completed and open doors to tenants in late 2024.

“We had announced the initial plan to do this with the city just a few weeks ago And very quickly, the Rapid Housing Initiative has been put into place, and we’re seeing a plan already in place to build,” said Parm Bains, MP for Steveston-Richmond East

BC Housing has promised to cover the $7 2 million operational costs, and Turning Point Housing Society, a notfor-profit providing housing and counselling services, will manage the building and its tenants once it’s built

The rent of the affordable units will not exceed 30 per cent of the tenant’s income, according to the city