New Supportive Housing in Burnaby

Alongside The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, the Honourable Anne Kange, BC Minister of Municipal Affairs, and Jacqueline Dupuis, Executive Director, Aunt Leah’s Foundation, we announced a combined investment of over $1 million for the redevelopment of Aunt Leah’s House, a five-unit supportive housing location for mothers and their children in the Metro Vancouver Area. Construction of the home is now complete, with Aunt Leah’s House set to reopen and welcome residents immediately.

The new home will include four bedrooms with attached bathrooms, a large training kitchen, a common living area, dining room, garage, fenced private yard, office space and a second-stage self-contained suite that mothers can graduate into. Housing and support services are available to new mothers at-risk of losing custody of their children. Through the Thresholds Program, delivered by Aunt Leah’s Place, mothers are provided with a safe and caring home environment to live in, where they learn how to care for their baby with the guidance of staff and family support workers.

The new home marks the 35th anniversary of Aunt Leah’s House, which has been operated by Aunt Leah’s Place since the 1980s. The new home will continue to support women and their families on their journey to independence, ensuring they remain together and are not separated by the child welfare system.

Funding provided for this project includes:

• $616,748 from the federal government, with $416,748 being provided through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund and $200,000 through Reaching Home
• $250,000 from the Province of British Columbia through BC Gaming Capital Projects Grant
• $125,000 from Aunt Leah’s Foundation
• $50,000 from the Vancity Community Foundation
• Generous donations from private donors to Aunt Leah’s Foundation

Through strong collaboration, our government is providing safe and affordable housing to women in need here in Burnaby and the neighbouring communities. Homes like Aunt Leah’s Place are a key pillar for socio-economic success — not only do they help women and their children, but they support better education and health outcomes, better employment prospects and better community engagement. When we look after our most vulnerable, we all succeed.