YWCA and BC Housing – A Committed Partnership

YWCA Metro Vancouver is committed to building and operating housing communities that provide safe and affordable housing options to women and single mothers and their children. Currently, there are nearly 900 women and children living in one of 14 YWCA housing communities. 

We don’t do it alone. The YWCA builds and maintains relationships with a range of stakeholders who share the vision that housing is an essential component to building community and achieving equality. 

BC Housing has long been one of the YWCA’s most reliable partners. This relationship has evolved over the years, and has brought to market hundreds of homes for women and children.  

In the 1970s, the YWCA opened the doors to the first second-stage housing community in Canada. Munroe House welcomed women who were leaving violent or abusive relationships and offered a secure place to stay. BC Housing helped make Munroe House a reality, paving the way for similar housing communities across the country and helping countless women find safety. 

The YWCA next began looking for opportunities to build housing across the Lower Mainland that was deeply affordable and where residents could stay long-term, alleviating the stress and pressure of constantly needing to move and re-enter the rental market. Together the YWCA and BC Housing entered a new phase of its partnership. BC Housing helped make these housing communities a reality through long-term financial commitments and by supporting operating costs.  

As the YWCA’s housing portfolio continued to grow, our partnership with BC Housing has strengthened. They have also been a long-time supporter of the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards as a category sponsor, honouring the achievements of women and organizations making a positive impact across Metro Vancouver.

This year marks 125 years of the YWCA’s service to the community. We are marking this occasion with the culmination of a five-year campaign called The Next 125, which is focused on building bright communities, including new housing in Richmond and Burnaby. As the YWCA’s housing communities evolve, we are so grateful to partners like BC Housing who help make safe, affordable housing a reality.