Dear Editor,
On Dec. 15, Richmond city council held a Special Council Meeting where it approved the design of a $5.3 million controversial lawn bowling clubhouse.
I was particularly confused by councillor Alexa Loo’s comments on affordable housing. She stated, “there is plenty of affordable housing coming down the pipe, and it’s coming close by, and we don’t have to stick them in the park.”
Loo’s comments are inaccurate. We do not have adequate affordable housing in Richmond. According the City of Richmond Affordable Housing 2019 Update, there were 825 Richmond households waiting for affordable housing on the BC Housing list. Meanwhile, 20.3 per cent of seniors live in poverty, according to the latest B.C. Seniors Poverty Report Card.
These numbers are pre-COVID, I cannot even imagine how much worse this is now.
Even with these new affordable housing projects Coun. Loo mentioned, we will not meet the increasing need.
I would recommend Coun. Loo read the City of Richmond Housing Affordability Profile.
Council should add affordable seniors housing to this one-storey lawn bowling facility or cancel the project all together. Spending $5.3 million on a clubhouse is reckless and deeply insulting to all members of our community who are struggling.
The city needs to continue focusing on a recovery plan that includes all Richmond residents and actively works to bring our seniors out of such a high poverty rate.
The demand for rental housing has increased dramatically in Richmond, maybe it’s time for the city to create a rental advisory committee (that includes seniors) to ensure renters’ viewpoints are heard.
Karina Reid
RICHMOND
