Community & Culture

The Social Development Strategy 2013-2022
Richmond City Council adopted the Richmond Social Development Strategy which is intended to guide the City’s decisions and resource allocations on social development matters. It is also a resource for external stakeholders which:

• Identifies social development priorities for City attention between now and 2022.
• Clarifies the roles of the City (and other stakeholders) with respect to addressing particular social development topics.
• Provides a foundation for a more integrated, coordinated, and sustainable approach for social development in Richmond for the future.

The City of Richmond recognizes that a range of housing choices is essential in creating a diverse, inclusive and livable community in Richmond.

Approved in March 2018, the City of Richmond Affordable Housing Strategy guides the City’s involvement in addressing the affordable housing needs of Richmond residents. The strategy identifies a range of priority groups, including families, seniors, one-person households, persons with disabilities and individuals experiencing homelessness.

The Affordable Housing Strategy 2021 Update provides a high-level summary of what the City and community partners achieved regarding affordable housing in 2021.

Housing Needs Report
On an ongoing basis, the City of Richmond monitors key trends related to affordable housing. The 2021 Housing Needs Report provides a summary of housing needs for Richmond residents. This report will inform the development of future housing policies and programs.

Low-End Market Rental Program

In 2007, the City launched the Low-End Market Rental housing program, which has achieved significant success by securing more than 900 new affordable housing units for low and moderate income households in Richmond. Additional information is provided in the Low End Market Rental Program Bulletin.

Affordable Housing Projects

The City of Richmond continues to work in partnership with the provincial and federal governments, local housing providers and the private sector to increase the supply of affordable housing for Richmond households. Visit the Housing Projects page for more information.

Finding Affordable Housing

The City of Richmond publishes the Affordable Housing Guide, which provides a comprehensive list of affordable housing options in Richmond.

Resources for Non-Profits and Developers

Enhanced Accessibility Design Guidelines

Group Homes in Richmond outlines Richmond's policy framework and requirements for group homes. For Chinese translations: simplifiedtraditional

Awards

The City of Richmond has won multiple awards for its affordable housing initiatives. In 2015, the Kiwanis Towers project received the UBCM Award for Excellence in Innovation and Partnership. In 2018, Storeys received the Award for Planning Excellence in Social Planning from the Canadian Institute of Planners.

Important Links

Updated Bulletin for Housing Developers

Contact

For general inquiries:

Roberto Abeabe

Manager, Affordable Housing

Community Social Development

Phone: 604-247-4916

Email: Roberto.Abeabe@richmond.ca

The Age-Friendly Cities initiative, started by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2006, was designed to optimize the health, participation and security of older adults throughout the course of aging by encouraging communities to adapt structures and services to increase accessibility and inclusion.

Since 2009, the BC Ministry of Health, in partnership with the Union of BC Municipalities, has funded Age-Friendly projects in over 120 communities across the province, including Richmond. The City of Richmond has many Age-Friendly policies and practices in place. The Age-Friendly Assessment and Action Plan, approved by Richmond City Council on March 23, 2015, builds on this foundation, bringing a more deliberate age-friendly focus to the many strategies and activities currently being pursued. The Plan identifies priority actions requiring attention over the next five years (2015 – 2019) and presents an implementation plan to realize the Plan’s vision “for Richmond to be the best place to age, at all stages, for all residents”. In recognition of steps taken, as well as ongoing commitment, Richmond received "Age-Friendly BC Recognition" in 2015.

ArtWorks: Richmond Arts Strategy 2019-2024 serves as a guide for decision-making to empower ideas, people and resources around a shared vision to advance the policies, programs and services needed for the arts to thrive in Richmond. Rooted in local context, the Strategy positions the arts as a means to achieve community goals in economic development, health and well-being, infrastructure and tourism. The development of the Arts Strategy took into consideration the goals and vision for Richmond as outlined in the Official Community Plan and related City Plans and Strategies. It is based on broad community input and was the result of extensive research and community engagement.

The City has completed three previous Child Care Needs Assessments in 1995, 2001 and 2009, which have helped to guide City actions for its role in supporting child care provision in Richmond.

In 2016 the City of Richmond conducted a comprehensive review and analysis of Richmond’s child care needs in order to forecast future needs for the period of 2017 to 2022. The methodology used for completing this report consisted of a literature review, demographic analysis, a review of best practises in other municipalities, online survey research (parents, guardians and child care operators), online forums and focus groups (parents, child care operators and stakeholders).

The results of the community engagement process were used to develop a City child care strategy for the next five years. The 2017-2022 Richmond Child Care Needs Assessment and Strategy recommends that the City and other stakeholders work together to address the need for quality, affordable, accessible child care spaces in Richmond.

2017-2022 Richmond Child Care Needs Assessment and Strategy
Richmond Child Care Needs Assessment and Strategy - Key Findings

The 2017-2022 Richmond Child Care Needs Assessment and Strategy Updates highlight the significant progress and achievements in addressing the short term and ongoing actions since the Strategy was adopted. Many innovative actions were initiated since July 2017 to provide families with increased access to child care and parenting resources, while also supporting child care providers. Future updates will continue to present the highlights from the implementation of the 2017–2022 Richmond Child Care Needs Assessment and Strategy.

2022 Update Child Care Needs Assessment and Strategy
2021 Update Child Care Needs Assessment and Strategy
2020 Update Child Care Needs Assessment and Strategy
2019 Update Child Care Needs Assessment and Strategy
2018 Update Child Care Needs Assessment and Strategy

2021-2031 Richmond Child Care Action Plan

The City of Richmond is a municipal leader in its commitment to child care. The child care space targets and actions outlined in the 2021–2031 Richmond Child Care Action Plan demonstrate the City’s recognition of child care being an essential need for Richmond residents and employees.

Building on the 2017-2022 Richmond Child Care Needs Assessment and Strategy, this plan offers valuable insight on municipal initiatives to expand and enhance child care choices in Richmond. Through research and consultation, the 2021-2031 Richmond Child Care Action Plan provides a snapshot of the current state of child care in Richmond and assesses the opportunities and challenges to better meet the child care needs of families. With this information, targets for child care space creation and actions to meet these targets are identified.
2021-2031 Richmond Child Care Action Plan
2021-2031 Richmond Child Care Action Plan - Key Findings

The City of Richmond Community Wellness Strategy 2018–2023 was adopted by City Council in July 2018. The purpose of this five-year strategy is to take a collaborative and holistic approach to improve wellness for Richmond residents and to increase opportunities for individuals, neighbourhoods and communities to be active and healthy.

The Community Wellness Strategy 2018-2023 was developed in partnership between the City of Richmond, Vancouver Coastal Health – Richmond and Richmond School District No. 38. This five-year strategy prioritizes wellness as a contributor to a vibrant, appealing and livable community and identifies innovative approaches to most effectively impact wellness outcomes.

Healthy Richmond

To provide a local perspective on health and wellness issues to support the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the Richmond Community Wellness Strategy, Vancouver Coast Health developed the Healthy Richmond Survey in 2012.

To view the full report, please visit: www.vch.ca

Cultural Harmony Plan

On November 25, 2019, City Council adopted the 2019-2029 Cultural Harmony Plan, which will guide the City’s approach in enhancing cultural harmony among Richmond’s diverse population. This plan sets out five strategic directions and 27 recommended actions to be completed over a 10-year period.

The Cultural Harmony Plan Progress Report for 2019–2021 provides a high-level summary of the accomplishments and endeavours the City, in partnership with the community, has accomplished to enhance intercultural connections among Richmond’s diverse population from 2019 to 2021.

Cultural Harmony Plan Progress Report for 2019-2021

On September 9, 2019, the Richmond Homelessness Strategy 2019-2029 was adopted by City Council. This strategy was informed through extensive public engagement activities and is guiding City staff and community actions regarding homelessness service provision over the 10-year period.

The Homelessness Strategy 2019-2029 provides the following vision statement:

“By 2029, homelessness in Richmond will be rare, brief and non-recurring. Richmond is an inclusive community that works in collaboration to provide a continuum of housing and support services.”

To achieve this vision, the strategy provides five strategic directions and 32 related actions:

1. Prevent pathways into homelessness.
2. Support residents who are experiencing homelessness.
3. Provide pathways out of homelessness.
4. Foster collaboration and capacity-building among community partners.
5. Communicate, research and monitor homelessness.

The City partners with numerous community stakeholders to undertake the recommended actions outlined in the Homelessness Strategy 2019-2029. Annual update reports to City Council (provided below) highlight ongoing progress in implementing this Strategy.

Homelessness Strategy 2019-2029 - 2021 Update
Homelessness Strategy 2019-2029 - 2020 Update

Seniors in Richmond are a diverse and growing demographic. The City of Richmond is committed to planning for the evolving needs of seniors in the community through its plans and strategies, which are outlined below.

Seniors Strategy (2022-2032)

On September 26, 2022, City Council adopted the City of Richmond Seniors Strategy (2022-2032), which will guide the work of the City and community partners to support seniors living in Richmond over the next ten years. The purpose of the Strategy is to address the needs of the growing population of seniors in Richmond. The Strategy does this by building on a solid foundation of community supports and programs that enable and empower seniors to be healthy, active and connected to the community.

Engaging Seniors in Age-Friendly Planning - 2020

Funded by a 2019 Age-Friendly Communities Grant from the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), the goal of the Engaging Seniors in Age-Friendly Planning project was to provide the City of Richmond and other organizations with a framework to guide the engagement of seniors in age-friendly planning in neighbourhoods throughout the city. The project built on previous age-friendly planning initiatives in Richmond, including the 2015-2019 Age Friendly Action Plan.

Engaging Seniors in Age-Friendly Planning 2020 Final Report

Dementia-Friendly Community Action Plan - 2019

On September 23, 2019, City Council adopted the Dementia-Friendly Community Action Plan 2019 for Richmond. The 25 actions outlined in the Plan will help to ensure that Richmond residents living with dementia as well as their families and caregivers are included, supported and valued, and that they continue to stay active and engaged with the community.

The above strategies and plans build on previous initiatives that support seniors in Richmond. A timeline of the various seniors-related plans and strategies is shown in the figure below.

Richmond Seniors Advisory Committee

The Richmond Seniors Advisory Committee (RSAC) provides advice to City Council to support the well-being of the 55+ population in Richmond and encourages the Richmond community to be involved in developing solutions to address seniors’ needs.

The City of Richmond has a long history of responding to the needs and aspirations of youth in Richmond. The actions outlined in the Draft 2022–2032 Richmond Youth Strategy (Draft Youth Strategy), demonstrate the City’s strong commitment to youth and recognition that the well-being of youth is best supported through community collaboration. The Draft Youth Strategy was approved in principle by City Council on October 11, 2022. Public engagement on the draft will take place between late February and March 31, 2023 prior to the Strategy being finalized.

Building on the progress made on the previous plans for youth in Richmond, including the 2015-2020 Youth Service Plan, the new Strategy will help to guide the City and those who work with youth while also furthering the City’s aspiration for “Richmond to be the best place in North America to raise children and youth.”

Framing the Draft Youth Strategy, the vision that “all youth in Richmond are safe, valued, respected and have the supports, opportunities, and resources to live rich and fulfilling lives” will inform the work over the next ten years.

The Draft 2022–2032 Richmond Youth Strategy consists of five strategic priorities and 34 recommended actions to be completed over a ten-year timeframe. The strategic priorities and accompanying actions were created in response to the themes identified during the analysis of community needs, best practices and various engagement activities. The strategic priorities clarify areas of focus and include actions that build on previous and ongoing work to achieve the described outcomes for youth. Specific targeted activities and initiatives will be identified in annual work plans to support the advancement of actions outlined in the strategy.

The Draft Strategy is organized into five strategic priorities:

Strategic Priority 1: Foundation
Youth have access to services and resources in the community that provide a foundation for wellness.

Strategic Priority 2: Voice
Youth are heard, valued and engaged as members of the community and their opinions and perspectives inform plans, programs and services that are important to them and impact their lives.

Strategic Priority 3: Collaboration
Youth are supported by an integrated and collaborative network of youth serving agencies, non-profit organizations, public partners and local government that work together to promote positive youth development.

Strategic Priority 4: Opportunity
Youth have equitable access to a wide-range of programs, services and initiatives that address their needs and support them to learn, develop and successfully navigate the various stages and transitions from early adolescence to young adulthood.

Strategic Priority 5: Awareness
Youth, their families and the broader community have access to information and resources and are aware of the services and supports available to youth in Richmond.

Comment on the Draft Youth Strategy

Details can be found at www.letstalkrichmond.ca/draftyouthstrategy.

Information on the 2015-2020 Youth Service Plan: Where Youth Thrive can be found in each of the annual updates.

• 2020 Update - Where Youth Thrive
• 2018 Update - Where Youth Thrive
• 2017 Update - Where Youth Thrive
• 2015-2016 Youth Service Plan Update