 |
|
SURREY
– The Ministry of Children and Family
Development and BC Housing have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to
create new licensed child-care spaces in existing and planned social housing
developments, announced Linda Reid, Minister of State for Child Care.
“The
Province recognizes the importance of maintaining and expanding child-care
partnerships to serve the diverse needs of B.C. children and families,” said
Reid. “Teaming up with BC Housing to locate these centres within social housing
projects will help to lessen some of the challenges faced by vulnerable
families in British Columbia.”
The
ministry is committing $2.5 million to three social housing sites for the
creation of a total of 109 new licensed group child-care spaces. The three
sites selected are located in Surrey, Vancouver and Dawson Creek.
“We know that providing child care close to home can
reduce some of the barriers to employment, schooling and healthy participation
in the community,” said Rich Coleman, Minister responsible for Housing. “This
project is another example of a healthy, integrated approach to supporting
low-income families.”
“The Fraser region has the highest proportion
of children in this province,” said Dave Hayer, MLA for Surrey-Tynehead. “I am
pleased that Atira Women’s Resource Society has been selected to provide
child-care services for children and their families in the community.”
The MOU – the second such agreement with BC
Housing – will ensure child care continues to operate for a minimum of 10 years
at the three sites. The first MOU was signed in July 2007 when the ministry
invested $2.5 million to help create over 100 new licensed child-care spaces at
social housing projects in New Westminster, Kamloops and Port Alberni.
Since 2001, B.C.’s major
capital funding program has created 3,300 new licensed child-care spaces. For
more information on child-care programs and services in British Columbia, visit
www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/.
BC Housing partners with private and
non-profit housing providers, other levels of government, health authorities
and community groups to increase affordable housing options for British
Columbians in greatest need. For more information, visit www.bchousing.org.
-30-
|
contact: |
Public Affairs Officer 250 356-2939 250 818-4508 (cell) |
BC Housing 604 439-8583 604 805-4960 (cell) |
|
|
||
|
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
||
