Grace Ethiopian Evangelical Church and City Collaborate on Affordable Housing Project
On Monday, May 13, Burnaby City Council approved a motion directing city staff to collaborate with Grace Ethiopian Evangelical Church’s nonprofit affiliate to locate a site in Burnaby for a significant housing initiative. The project aims to establish 50 affordable housing units, community space, and a childcare facility.
Established in the 1990s, the church focuses on supporting newcomers from Ethiopia and Eritrea. Pastor Mesfin Mulugeta highlighted that the church’s outreach program assists newcomers in Burnaby to “overcome barriers of systemic racism, inequality, and exclusion from opportunities in housing, education, employment, and healthcare.”
At the April 8, 2024, Planning and Development Committee (PDC) meeting, Mulugeta presented the project, emphasizing the acute need for affordable housing among Black Canadians in the city. He noted, “Affordable housing is the greatest need of our community, and unaffordability is forcing many of our young people to consider leaving our beautiful province.” Mulugeta referenced former Minister Ahmed Hussein, stating, “In Canada, diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice.”
Mulugeta shared statistics indicating nearly a quarter of Black Canadians face core housing needs, with 80% spending over 30% of their income on housing. The proposed development aims to address these challenges by providing 50 affordable housing units, along with community and childcare facilities, requiring at least one acre of land.
The church’s nonprofit has raised approximately half a million dollars and is seeking governmental support to expedite land acquisition for the project. During the PDC meeting, Coun. Alison Gu inquired whether the housing units would have religious restrictions. Mulugeta assured that there would be no religious criteria for applicants, promoting a fair selection process.
Mayor Mike Hurley committed to tasking staff with identifying a suitable location for the project, acknowledging the increasing scarcity of land. He emphasized the city’s efforts to maximize the development of affordable housing.
“The part that is holding us back is the land,” Mulugeta said, noting that the nonprofit has engaged a project manager and secured potential funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) for Black Canadians, contingent on finding an appropriate site.
Rendering of the proposed project. Photo: City of Burnaby
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Is your garage, shed, attic, or basement crying out for a clean-up? Burnaby’s first Spring Clean-Up Day is your free, comprehensive drop-off point to kick off your home clean-up!
For this special day, the City of Burnaby welcomes you to bring any household junk—even items it doesn’t usually accept! On June 8, haul your hard-to-dispose items to the Still Creek Works Yard (opposite the Eco-Centre), and the staff will recycle what we can and responsibly dispose of the rest at no cost.
This is the perfect chance to clear out some of that home clutter, including items that would typically require a fee for disposal at a Metro Vancouver facility. Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver will be on-site to accept donations of gently used clothing and household items, supporting local youth mentorship programs and empowering children to achieve their potential. The City of Burnaby welcomes items such as:
When loading items into your vehicle, group your items for easy sorting. Separate garbage, recyclable items, and reusable items (like clothes and books) for donation.
Keep your Burnaby residence information handy – for instance, your driver’s license, or a utility bill with a Burnaby address.
Follow the event signs and staff instructions for a quick and smooth experience.
Make your visit a fun family outing by joining in the festivities at our Eco Centre Open House across the street after dropping off your items!
After you’re done, you can find parking for the Eco-Centre Open House if your vehicle doesn’t have a trailer—City of Burnaby staff will guide you to a spot.
If you tow a trailer, you can park on the street after exiting to the right (east) along Westminster Ave.
Accessing the Works Yard:
To enter the drop-off area, vehicles must be driving east on Still Creek Drive and make a right-hand turn into the yard—City of Burnaby staff will not permit left-hand turns, to keep traffic flowing.
If you’re approaching the works yard from the opposite direction, you can use the roundabout at Eastbrook Parkway to turn around.
City of Burnaby staff will verify your Burnaby residency while your vehicle is in line and guide you to your unloading area in one of two lines—you’ll need to unload your vehicle yourself, but staff can help with sorting your items.
Spring Clean-Up Day Event Map. Source: City of Burnaby
The Spring Clean-Up Day Event Guidelines:
Only Burnaby residents
No commercial vehicles
No construction or demolition waste
Maximum trailer length of 20 ft
No green waste – this can be dropped off at the Eco Centre across the street
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