Capital Campaigns

Alder Gardens Update: On February 7, through much support from government, donors, staff and valuable partnerships, the YWCA broke ground at Alder Gardens to officially launch Surrey’s new affordable housing construction for single mothers. For more information about the event please click here.

Alder Gardens

This partnership between YWCA Metro Vancouver, the City of Surrey and BC Housing will build 36 supportive housing units for single mothers, with priority given to Surrey residents. The City of Surrey will provide a 60-year lease on the land for $1, and BC Housing will fund the operations of the housing for the term of the lease, while subsidizing rents.  

Single mothers in this community need the support. More than 80% of single-parent families in Surrey are led by women, a third of whom live below the poverty line. And the waiting lists for subsidized housing are long.  As with our current housing developments, residents in Surrey will be supported during their stay by a Community Development Coordinator to deal with issues such as employment, legal concerns, poverty and parenting skills. 

The development permit for the project was issued in September 2010 and construction is now under way. Occupancy for single mothers and their families is expected by the spring of 2012.

For further information contact:
Bobbi Sarai
Senior Manager, Fund Development
604 895 5780
bsarai@ywcavan.org

Como Lake Gardens

Como Lake Gardens Update: on May 20, YWCA CEO Janet Austin was joined by BC premier Christy Clark, Minister Rich Coleman and members of the local community to celebrate breaking ground at Como Lake Gardens in Coquitlam, another YWCA Metro Vancouver supportive housing development.

Como Lake Gardens will provide 30 units of affordable housing for low-income single mothers who are at risk of homelessness. On land donated to YWCA Metro Vancouver by the City of Coquitlam, Como Lake Gardens will be close to many community facilities, such as schools, community centres, libraries and shopping, and will be well served by public transit, helping maintain the building’s LEED Gold standard.   

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) provides standards for environmentally sustainable construction through higher performance standards and energy efficiency than normal building practices. To implement a smaller carbon footprint for Como Lake Gardens, the project design team has incorporated green building features that will increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions for better air quality.

Construction of the building was started in March 2011 and we hope to see single mothers and their children moving into the building in Spring 2012.

For further information contact:
Celia Campos
Manager, Fund Development
604 895 5810
ccampos@ywcavan.org

Housing applicants – We are now accepting rental applications for Alder Gardens and Como Lake Gardens. These two developments will be completed in early 2012. Learn how to apply.