HOMELESSNESS IN RICHMOND BACKGROUND ON THE RICHMOND POVERTY RESPONSE COMMITTEE WHAT WE HEAR FROM SOME RICHMOND RESIDENTS WHAT WE HEAR FROM RICHMOND RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING POVERTY WHAT WE KNOW CITY OF RICHMOND A. H. STRATEGY SOME REASONS FOR THE FIX WE ARE IN POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS - HOUSING, SERVICES AND SHELTER 2017 RICHMOND HOMELESS COUNT MOVING FORWARD
BACKGROUND The Richmond Poverty Response Committee (PRC) is 'a coalition of Richmond residents and agencies working together to reduce poverty and the impacts of poverty with research, projects and public education.' The PRC has a long history of project and advocacy work in Richmond and a proven track record in community engagement, poverty advocacy and completing pilot projects on time and on budget.
Richmond PRC Housing Advocacy 2006 Bylaw Rental Premises Standards of Maintenance 2007 Affordable Housing Strategy and Reserve Fund recommendations 2008 Homes For All Study Circles with City of Richmond 2009-present Richmond Homeless Connect community event 2010 Richmond Building Hope Housing Forum 2012-2015 Richmond Rental Connect project 2016-present Eliminating Barriers to Participation for People Experiencing Poverty project 2017 Richmond Affordable Housing Strategy update recommendations
Barriers project
WHAT WE HEAR FROM SOME RICHMOND RESIDENTS There is no poverty in Richmond. Richmond residents are all rich and live in big homes. Where are all the poor people? I don t see any. If they are poor it is their fault. Some people choose to be homeless.
Who would choose this?
WHAT WE HEAR FROM RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING POVERTY Housing is a basic need. I am in horrible living conditions. I need affordable seniors housing. My landlord is awful but where else can I go? I live pay cheque to pay cheque. The men s shelter is always full. Living this way is dehumanizing.
Richmond Advocacy & Support Committee (Barriers project)
WHAT WE KNOW 2017 City of Richmond website https://www.richmond.ca/plandev/socialplan/housing/overvi ew.htm Notes about the affordability situation in Richmond: 2011 Census says 4485 or 33% of Richmond renters are in core housing need 13% of renter households are in deep core need Average monthly rent for a 3 bedroom unit is $1,596* Vacancy rate of 0.9% makes it difficult to find affordable rental units
2002 Homeless Needs Assessment and Strategy The City of Richmond recognizes the challenges in addressing homelessness but it cannot solve housing affordability issues and homelessness alone. However they can play a key role in partnership with senior government and private/non-profit sectors. The Homeless Strategy is to be reviewed in 2018
No lack of market purchase units
Challenges People have to leave Richmond to find services and resources Men s shelter and women s transition house turn away hundreds every year Limited options for those with mental health issue or disability Over 1500 people use the Food Bank every week, 1/3 of them children Rent gap is getting larger - shelter allowances, RAP and SAFER don t cover real costs Subsidized housing Richmond has 2,600 units but wait list is 700+ long (5-7 years)
SOME REASONS FOR THE FIX WE ARE IN Little funding for purpose-built affordable rental housing Existing affordable housing disappearing because of redevelopment (secondary suites) Demand for social housing consistently outstripping supply Income not keeping up with rising rents High cost of private market housing Not enough emergency shelter beds Richmond has no women s shelter Richmond has no residential detox/addiction treatment beds
Two affordable suites gone
Land assembly for townhouses
Homeless Strategy recommends projects under 5 themes: 1. Upgrade and increase emergency shelter capacity 2. Create supportive housing for at-risk groups 3. Increase community awareness 4. Increase support to local services 5. Continue leadership on affordable housing
Housing Turning Point Women s rehab housing (9 beds for short term) Chimo Vacant House program (50 housed since 2012) Kiwanis Towers (296 units of affordable seniors housing) Cadence - Atira Housing (15 affordable units for lone parents with supports The Storeys (129 units subsidized rental with supports) Concord and Pinnacle ARTS (37 work/live units for low-income artists) in 2018 Pathways Clubhouse (80 subsidized units for mental health clients) in 2018
Cadence 15 units
The Storeys 129 units
Services and Shelter Richmond Drop In Centre (20 people/day) Shower and Laundry program (Saturdays including lunch) Community Meals (5 lunches, 4 dinners/week) Food Bank distribution (6 distributions/week including one evening) Outreach Meal program (25 street entrenched/day) Cold Weather Emergency Shelter (October-April) Richmond Rental Inventory (phone app for outreach workers) Salvation Army Shelter replacement (36 beds) to open in 2018
2007 Affordable Housing Strategy (policy review in progress) 1,392 units secured through the Affordable Housing Strategy (2007 to 2016): 320 low-end market rental units (rents $850 to $1437) 477 subsidized rental units (max rent $850) 411 market rental units 165 secondary suites and coach houses 19 affordable homeownership units With Metro Vancouver s estimation of 180 units of lowincome rental housing needed annually in Richmond over 10 years, it is time to review the subsidized rental housing policy.
THE 2017 HOMELESS COUNT The Metro Homeless Count is done every three years in March. The count surveys people with no physical shelter, or in an emergency shelter, or jail, detox or transition house who wish to be surveyed. This count on March 7/8, 2017 included people who were couch surfing or in a shelter on the survey evening/day.
Safe haven at St. Alban s
2017 RICHMOND HOMELESS COUNT 38 people in 2014 70 people in 2017 84% increase in homeless individuals in three years More people sheltered than in 2014 Generally agreed these numbers are an undercount 120+ homeless individuals - estimate from outreach workers and service providers
Nowhere to go
MOVING FORWARD Housing the homeless should be Richmond s priority Richmond is 400 units short re: Metro estimate Build affordable rental supply to meet the real need Need collaborative approaches with government, nonprofits, developers, faith community, other funders Workforce housing, modular housing a possible solution Need innovative development models and ownership models (community land trusts, etc)
Modular housing in Oslo
RICHMOND IS UNIQUE! Must consider Richmond s unique geography when designing built space: Island city (16 km long) YVR is close by High water table SO. Richmond can grow Up but not Out But not more than 17 stories including parking Can t go underground so parking must be at ground level
Thank you! De Whalen Chair, Richmond Poverty Response Committee www.richmondprc.org 604.230.3158