B.C. funds half of 2nd Ronald McDonald House

The B.C. government will provide half the $27 million needed to build a second Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver, to be located at BC Children's Hospital.

Premier Christy Clark says the province is contributing $13.3 million to build the facility, which she says will offer a home-like environment for families who have to travel to Vancouver for their children to get the care they need.

The second Ronald McDonald House will be able to accommodate up to 60 families at a time or about 2,200 a year compared to the first facility, which can hold only about 13 families at once or 400 a year.

The new project will result in the second-largest Ronald McDonald House program in Canada, said Ronald McDonald House B.C. CEO Richard Pass.

The other half of the money needed for the home will come from fundraising by Ronald McDonald House B.C.

Construction is expected to begin later this year and the house should be open in early 2013.