Big Housing Win! - Christine Boyle, OneCity

After almost 2 years of effort, and hundreds of residents writing in support, Council unanimously supported my motion to make it faster & easier to build non-profit, co-op and supportive housing in every neighbourhood!

The motion is focused on reducing barriers and deepening affordability for non-profit, co-op and social housing by speeding up the process and delegating final approval for qualifying projects to staff.

This is a win for everyone struggling to afford to stay in Vancouver. A win for renters, for people in precarious housing, for those paying more than 30% of their income in rent, for living in cars or tents, for those already priced out of the city and forced into long commutes into work. OneCity Vancouver believes that you belong here.

I am disappointed that ABC Councillors added a large amendment that could delay implementation of this badly needed step. We are in a housing crisis. We need to act with urgency, not with more studies and delays.

But still, this is a step in the right direction.

The motion was supported by the BC Nonprofit Housing Association (BCNPHA), Cooperative Housing Federation of BC (CHFBC) and other organizations and experts that build and operate non-profit and co-op housing, alongside business leaders like the Downtown Vancouver BIA, and community groups including Women Transforming Cities and the Single Mothers Alliance, arts leaders, labour leaders, and more. Read more a b o u t t h e m o t i o n , i n c l u d i n g q u o t e s o f s u p p o r t , here.

THANK YOU to the 600+ residents who wrote into or spoke at Council. And the support and input of local non-profit and co-op housing leaders.

There is still work ahead to see this important change implemented. I will keep pushing, alongside you and OneCity Vancouver, for the housing we need.

More info here: https://www.onecityvancouver.ca/boyle_motion_passes
Stay involved at: https://www.onecityvancouver.ca/