 SHANNON BRENNAN (NEWS 1130) – Affordable housing for low-income families has been given the green light by Vancouver’s City Council. It will be built on top of the fire hall at East 54th, which is slated to be rebuilt.
This is targeted largely towards single moms and their kids says Vancouver City Councillor Kerry Jang. “Many of them are living in sub-standard conditions or very old rental stock so this is an opportunity for them to live in a great neighbourhood [with] brand new construction in a nice safe environment. I mean what kid doesn’t love to have fire trucks running in and out every so often.” Jang notes the building will be six storey’s high and the social housing will be operated by the YWCA. “The whole point is that it is made affordable for moms and their kids and it’s really based on their needs. A lot of these families are just getting back upon their feet again after divorce or abuse or something like that so it’s really important that they have a safe place to live and that is what’s key.” In total 31 units have been approved and of those 28 of them are two bedroom and three of them are three bedroom. The rents will be subsidized on a sliding scale depending on the needs of the tenants. |