Housing Overview
Improving the availability of appropriate, affordable and accessible housing choices for all existing and future residents is a key City goal and regarded as an integral element of creating a livable and appealing City for everyone.
Richmond is a maturing community. Richmond residents have endorsed a plan for the concentration of growth to create a strong City Centre, a true downtown with a business core, urban neighbourhoods, as well as arts and cultural amenities. Outside the City Centre, residents want to move beyond subdivisions towards mature neighbourhoods with a strong sense of community - places to live, work, shop, play, walk, roll, and gather, from childhood through old age.
Key housing issues in Richmond include:
- responding effectively to increased housing demand as the City grows
- responding to changing housing needs of households and individuals over time
- ensuring an adequate supply of affordable and accessible housing for low to moderate income seniors, families and individuals and residents with special needs
- ensuring a range of housing types and tenures which can respond to the diverse needs of Richmond residents
The City has had a long and proactive history in responding to local housing issues. Key elements of this response have been:
- Long range housing policy development
- Strategic review and planning on specific issues such as homelessness and group homes
- Designation of specific affordable housing sites within some of the City's newer neighbourhoods
- An Affordable Housing Statutory Reserve Fund
- Strategic acquisition and below market rate leasing of land for non profit housing
- Supporting and facilitating demonstration projects of innovative housing
- Monitoring and research of housing issues and trends
Official Community Plan Policies
Key Official Community Plan housing policies seek to:
- Encourage a broad variety of housing types, universal designed dwelling units, tenures and price ranges suitable to meet the needs of everyone in the community including families, singles, couples, people with disabilities and seniors and;
- Ensure that new housing is appropriate to the character of neighbourhoods within and outside the City Centre.
The City's Affordable Housing Strategy was initially adopted by Council in 1989 and updated in 1994. In February, 2006, Richmond City Council resolved to prepare an update to the 1994 Affordable Housing Strategy.
The Strategy identifies key housing goals and priorities for the City as well as recommending a number of short and long term actions. The revision process is currently underway. See Affordable Housing Strategy for more information.
Homelessness Strategy
On June 10, 2002, Council endorsed the vision, guiding principles and homelessness strategy as a framework to guide and co-ordinate local efforts to address homelessness in Richmond. The strategy was developed in collaboration with a wide range of community stakeholders representing local social service providers, the health authority, faith community, business, seniors and youth. The study process and recommended action plan recognize that solutions to homelessness issues do not rest with any one community stakeholder or partner, but rather requires a coordinated, targeted response by a variety of community interests. Key strategic directions include:
- upgrading and increasing emergency shelter capacity
- creating supportive housing for at risk groups
- increasing community awareness
- supporting local services
- increasing the supply of affordable housing
Seniors housing is key priority in Richmond. In 2001, the City prepared the Affordable Seniors Supportive Housing Study which provides a comprehensive overview of information and requirements for the planning, development and operation of affordable housing seniors supportive housing in Richmond. The study was prepared with the assistance and participation of a community based advisory committee comprised of representatives of the City's Seniors Advisory Council, the private and non profit housing sector and the local health authority.
Design guidelines for seniors supportive housing have also been prepared and adopted by Council in November, 2002. The guidelines provide a framework to help guide the planning, design review and approval of seniors supportive housing in Richmond.
Richmond Flex HouseThe Richmond Flex House Demonstration Project is a two storey, 2,178 square foot, wood frame home built to accommodate a variety of homebuyers. The project is a joint venture between the City, Pacific Western Developments and CMHC. The home was designed to incorporate a number of features including flexible design, healthy building materials, energy efficiency and accessibility. It features a floor plan that enables the house to convert from a four-bedroom family home, to a duplex or to a rental suite at relatively affordable renovation costs. The house is located at 3860 Regent Street in the Steveston area of Richmond. A comprehensive evaluation study aiming to identify key success factors and barriers, including consumer, policy and regulatory considerations is underway and will be complete in the Spring of 2003.
Group Homes in Richmond
Group Homes offer an important service to their residents because they provide short and long-term living arrangements, affordable and safe housing, skills training peer support and counselling, and simply an opportunity for people in need to live independently. Group homes make it possible for residents to live within their community.
On May 27th. 2002, Council endorse comprehensive policies for licensed and unlicensed group homes in the City.
Housing and Care: Directory of Assisted Housing Facilities in RichmondThe City maintains a Directory of Assisted Housing defined as:
- housing that has been funded through programs developed and managed by the Federal and Provincial Government, in partnership with non-profit agencies and housing co-operatives, and;
- facilities provided under the Long Term Care Program for those who require intermediate or extended levels of care.
The City produces Hot Facts which are a series of facts sheets which allow users to get a snapshot of the demographic, social, economic, and development trends affecting the City. They are published by the City of Richmond's Urban Development Division as information becomes available. They rely on a variety of sources which include: BC Statistics, Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD), Statistics Canada and information collected by the City of Richmond. Hot Facts are available on this website and at the main information counter at City Hall.
