Community & Culture
Social Development Strategy
Richmond City Council adopted the Richmond Social Development Strategy 2013-2022 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.
Affordable Housing Strategy
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: simplified traditional
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
2017-2027 City of Richmond Affordable Housing Strategy
Updated Housing Affordability Profile
Updated Bulletin for Housing Developers
Age-Friendly Assessment and Action Plan
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 in 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
Child Care Strategy
New Child Care Strategy
The City of Richmond is developing a new 10 year Child Care Strategy. This new Strategy will identify current and future needs for child care in Richmond and set recommendations and actions to help address these.
We want to hear from Richmond residents, parents, guardians, caregivers and child care providers, to share their thoughts and ideas about child care in Richmond.
Visit LetsTalkRichmond.ca from Oct 23 to Nov 26, 2023 to complete the survey.
If you need help completing this survey, please email childcare@richmond.ca
如果您需要帮助完成本调查，请发送电子邮件至 childcare@richmond.ca
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
Community Wellness Strategy
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.
Homelessness
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:
- Prevent pathways into homelessness.
- Support residents who are experiencing homelessness.
- Provide pathways out of homelessness.
- Foster collaboration and capacity-building among community partners.
- 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 Planning and Strategy Development
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.
Youth Strategy
The City of Richmond has a long history of responding to the needs and aspirations of youth in Richmond. On Jul 24, 2023, City Council adopted the 2022–2032 Richmond Youth Strategy with the vision that ‘all youth in Richmond are safe, valued, respected and have the supports, opportunities, and resources to live rich and fulfilling lives.’ The Youth Strategy is the result of a multi-phased process that included best practice research, engagement with youth, their families and key partners, and the development of a demographic profile of youth in Richmond.
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 in the planning and implementation of programs, services and supports.
The Strategy is organized into five strategic priorities:
1. Foundation
Youth have access to services and resources in the community that provide a foundation for wellness.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In collaboration and partnership with youth, youth-serving organizations and community partners in Richmond, the City is committed to playing a leadership role in implementing the 36 actions proposed in the Youth Strategy and achieving its vision for youth and the community.
Information on the 2015-2020 Youth Service Plan: Where Youth Thrive can be found in each of the annual updates.