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mr.x
Oct 22, 2007, 6:43 AM
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7697/shousingkg7.jpg

From PriceTags/Oct. 20th:
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7659/shousingib3.jpg

“There’s never enough” - that’s the first rule of non-market housing. Advocates for affordable housing in a tight market like ours have no difficulty making that case: the evidence is abundantly apparent, whether in the media or on the streets.

So it’s easy to lose perspective. In fact, the list below (circulated by the Mayor’s office) came as a bit of a surprise to me. I hadn’t realized there had been any completed projects this year, nor that there were that many units under construction.

Perhaps because Councils unanimously support these initiatives (with only a couple of exceptions I can think of in 15 years on Council) and the Left is reluctant to give the Right any credit at all, gains are discounted and difficiencies magnified.

It does look as though most of the housing to come will be the maintenance of existing SROs, upgraded and secured and concentrated in the Downtown East Side and Downtown South. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to make much difference, either in politics or perception. And in fact, I wonder if it really makes a difference to homelessness. The truly dysfunctional rarely find a place in these government-funded projects, since they’re often too disruptive to those who wish to maintain a stable environment.

Nonetheless, whether sufficient or not, it’s an improvement. And that’s always worth acknowledging.




What more can I say? But I'll say it again...fuck the APC.

hollywoodnorth
Oct 22, 2007, 8:19 AM
great article......the left is RELENTLESS in BC in their witchhunt of anything not thought of or initiated by them.

djh
Oct 22, 2007, 4:40 PM
What's the source of those figures? Can they be verified? What's a "new" room and what's a "converted" room?

Whilst I applaud your argument that there are real efforts to add rooms, and the APC are a reactionary group that will never be satisfied...it's easy to post a link to 'statistics' and say "nyah nyah nyah". They could probably do the same -e.g., produce stats to say the government is "removing" beds and post a table on flickr. So let's get some verification of the sources before we get on our collective high horses.

SpongeG
Oct 22, 2007, 11:43 PM
I would think new room means its new to the market ie never existed before and converted means they renovated or converted existing rooms

problem is the APC wants everything on a platter

204
Oct 25, 2007, 1:16 AM
problem is the APC wants everything on a platter

Screw APC, if you want affordable housing, move to Saskatchewan.

mr.x
Oct 27, 2007, 10:18 PM
Did anybody see the lady on tv at that open house last night? She was shrieking and crying in front of the microphone....hillarious.




Oct 26, 2007 15:18 ET
$7M Supportive Housing Development Opens in Vancouver

Human Resources and Social Development Canada
The Federal Government of Canada

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Oct. 26, 2007) - A new $7-million supportive housing apartment building officially opened in Vancouver today, providing help for people with mental health and addiction issues. The development is a partnership between all three levels of government, the local health authority and Triage Emergency Services & Care Society.

"The Government of Canada is delivering on its commitments to help those who are homeless and at risk of becoming homeless, including Canadians on our streets experiencing mental illness," said Mark Warawa, Member of Parliament for Langley, speaking on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development. "Triage Emergency Services and Care Society will offer Vancouverites with mental illness access to the safe housing and support they need to improve their quality of life and fully participate in society."

5616 Fraser Street provides 30 units of supportive housing for adults with mental health issues who require support services and are engaged in active recovery from addictions. It will be operated by Triage Emergency Services & Care Society.

"5616 Fraser Street will make a real difference, both for the people who call it home and for the community, by providing stable housing and support to people battling addictions and mental illness," said Minister responsible for Housing Rich Coleman. "Supportive housing developments are an important part of breaking the cycle of homelessness."

The development was created through partnerships under the Government of Canada's Homelessness Partnering Strategy and the Provincial Homelessness Initiative housing program, which is part of the ongoing work of the Premier's Task Force on Homelessness, Mental Illness and Addictions. The initiative integrates support services with housing to help people move beyond temporary shelter to more secure housing, greater self-reliance, and appropriate employment.

"This project demonstrates the benefit of governments working together to provide more stable housing options for our citizens in greatest need," said Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan. "As a member of the Premier's Task Force, I am encouraged that we are making progress to address the need for housing with supports here in Vancouver with the addition of 5616 Fraser Street."

"By combining housing with support services, we are demonstrating how various levels of government and the non-profit and private sectors can join together to build communities that are both safe and sustainable," said Ida Goodreau, president and chief executive officer of Vancouver Coastal Health. "This will help ensure residents can stabilize their lives and improve their health before they transition into a more permanent living situation."

"5616 Fraser Street is not simply a way to get people off the streets, but to provide a wide range of supports 24 hours a day that assist people in achieving stability and moving on with their lives," said Mark Smith, executive director of Triage Emergency Services & Care Society.

The Province has committed to creating more than 2,300 new housing units under the Provincial Homelessness Initiative. The Province's budget for shelters and affordable housing is $328 million - nearly triple what it was in 2001.

The Government of Canada, through its Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS), is taking action to prevent and reduce homelessness in Greater Vancouver. This strategy is providing $269.6 million over two years to help communities across Canada combat homelessness more effectively. The HPS puts in place structures and supports that help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless achieve self-sufficiency and full participation in society.

BACKGROUNDER

5616 FRASER STREET

The development at 5616 Fraser Street in Vancouver provides 30 self-contained studio apartments of supportive housing.

The new housing creates safe, affordable homes where people with a mental illness who want to live without consuming alcohol or illegal drugs can achieve long term health and stability and grow towards their maximum potential. The building is alcohol and drug free and staffed 24 hours per day, seven days a week. The staff provide the tenants with a full range of support services, including support in achieving their treatment goals, life skills assistance, social and recreational opportunities and support in finding and maintaining employment. The 24-hour staff presence also ensures that the building remains a safe haven for the tenants.

A Community Advisory Committee has been established to liaise with surrounding residents and businesses. Vancouver City Council approved a Supportive Housing Strategy in June to provide the framework for developing supportive housing for people with mental illness and addictions throughout the city.

The three-storey concrete building opened to residents in August 2007.

Partners and Funding

Capital cost of this project is $7 million.

Partners and Funding:

- Human Resources and Social Development Canada, through the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, provided an approximate $3,326,040 grant.

- The Province provided a one-time grant of $1.35 million.

- Vancouver Coastal Health provided a capital grant of $1.6 million.

- The City of Vancouver provided a grant of $575,000 and approximately $149,000 in municipal reductions of levies.

Triage Emergency Services & Care Society

For more than 20 years, Triage has endeavoured to provide a continuum of housing and support opportunities for people with mental health, substance use and other challenges. Their vision is 'A home for every person.'

MistyMountainHop
Oct 28, 2007, 12:20 PM
That's still not enough.

leftside
Oct 28, 2007, 4:52 PM
Congrats to all 3 levels of govt for NOT putting this facility in the DTES. That surely is the worst place on earth to put people who are trying to recover from an addiction.

mr.x
Oct 30, 2007, 9:25 PM
250 square feet and a roof to get homeless off streets

John Bermingham, The Province
Published: Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Suites the size of a large bathroom are among the social-housing options the B.C. government is using to tackle the homeless problem in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

The small-suite pilot project at 337 W. Pender St. will include 120 units measuring 250 square feet. Each will have its own bed, bathroom, kitchen and dining area, along with a small TV.

Housing Minister Rich Coleman told The Province the suites are aimed at people coming out of homeless shelters.

"It's overdue," Coleman said. "Everybody knows that square footage is what costs money. You don't always need to build 600 square feet.

"They really want something secure and warm, with their own washroom and kitchenette so that they can live in dignity. They lock it up when they leave and still have supports around them."

Coleman announced yesterday that 10 non-profit groups would be operating 11 downtown single-room-occupancy hotels bought by the B.C. government in the spring. About $20 million will be spent to upgrade the hotels.

Rudy Small, director of housing with the Coast Foundation Society, which will operate the small suites, agrees that they are tiny but said they allow for independent living.

"I think it's a start for people," said Small.

NDP housing critic David Chudnovsky said the small suites have no completion date and no builder.

"The bigger issue is, it's just a proposal," said Chudnovsky. "There is no way in the world there will be units arising from that announcement before the Olympics."

Kim Kerr of the Downtown Eastside Residents Association said "cruise-ship" rooms are "better than nothing."

"But do we really want tiny little boxes?" Kerr said. "If this is what we're calling housing, 250 square feet, that concerns me."

jbermingham@png.canwest.com

- - -

IN THE WORKS

RENOVATIONS COMING TO:

Carl Rooms, 335 Princess Ave.; Drake Hotel, 606 Powell St.; Marble Arch Hotel, 518 Richards St.; Molson Bank, 166 E. Hastings St.; Orange Hall, 329 Gore Ave.; Orwell Hotel, 456 E. Hastings St.; Pender St. Supportive Housing, 337 W. Pender St.; Park Hotel, 429 W. Pender St.; Rice Block, 404 Hawks Ave.; Savoy Hotel, 258 E. Hastings St.; St. Helen's Hotel, 1161 Granville St.; Walton Hotel, 261 E. Hastings St.


© The Vancouver Province 2007

deasine
Oct 31, 2007, 12:04 AM
Well it's good to see the politicans are realizing that this is a problem and trying to do something about it

djh
Oct 31, 2007, 3:43 AM
Well it's good to see the politicans are realizing that this is a problem and trying to do something about it

...just in time for the Winter Olympics. My, is that a coincidence or what?

SFUVancouver
Oct 31, 2007, 4:59 AM
^ Whatever it takes. Few things spring a politician into action like the threat of embarrassment.

jlousa
Oct 31, 2007, 5:25 PM
Maybe we should have voted down the olympics and then we wouldn't have had the desire to clean up the streets. Would that have been better?

How is this any different then cleaning your house before company comes over? It's human nature, don't blame the govt.

djh
Oct 31, 2007, 5:48 PM
Maybe we should have voted down the olympics and then we wouldn't have had the desire to clean up the streets. Would that have been better?

How is this any different then cleaning your house before company comes over? It's human nature, don't blame the govt.

Hey, I didn't "blame" anybody. Jumping to conclusions, there. I fully support what they're doing.

It's just ironic that it took so long for action to happen in that neighbourhood.

jlousa
Oct 31, 2007, 6:16 PM
I would disagree with that statement, there has always been lots of action taken there, it's just been the wrong actions. The govt has slowly learned from it's mistakes and changes are beginning to happen
The biggest change is that developers are moving in due to a lack of cheap land in the core.

djh
Oct 31, 2007, 6:19 PM
I'll be more precise then: It's just ironic that it took so long for the municipal, provincial and federal governments to take positive and decisive and benefitial action to happen in the DTES neighbourhood that improves it as a whole.

Stingray2004
Nov 10, 2007, 4:46 PM
Coleman 'Committed' to 12 Towers
Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

Housing minister pledges that if Vancouver fast tracks permits, province will provide money to build more than 1,100 new homes.
By Monte Paulsen
Published: November 9, 2007

TheTyee.ca

The Province of British Columbia has hammered out a deal with the City of Vancouver that could fast-track development of more than 1,100 new studio apartments for the homeless.

If funded, the 12-building project will represent the largest single investment in social housing in British Columbia's history. Housing Minister Rich Coleman told The Tyee that if Vancouver approves the permits, he'll provide the estimated $300 million needed to build these homes.

"One way or another, we are going to make this happen," Coleman told The Tyee. "We're completely committed to this project... I want to break ground on at least six of these sites within a year."

Under that best-case scenario, Coleman's aggressive timeframe might complete one or two of these 12 buildings just in time for the 2010 Winter Games. Reaching that particular Olympic dream will require an unprecedented degree of political leadership, neighbourhood support and bureaucratic coordination within a city hall where such behaviour has been notably absent this year.

The BC Housing deal will be presented to Vancouver City Council on November 13. A public meeting on the proposal is scheduled for Dec. 12.

Architects already aboard

The 12-tower deal -- presented in a memorandum of understanding and discussed in a report to council -- is an extension of BC Housing's previously announced plan to fund pre-development activities.

The memo identifies 12 of about 20 sites the city has committed to social housing, and suggests an approximate number of studio apartments that could be built at each site. (See sidebar.)

Five of the sites are located in commercial areas. The city will push to add about 30,000 sq. ft. of retail space on the ground floors of those buildings. Two of those sites --- the Drake Hotel site on Powell at Princess, and the Broadway Youth Resource Centre site on Broadway at Fraser --- are large enough to also accommodate a full mix of market, non-market and commercial space.

Three architectural firms have already been hired to design the buildings: Davidson Yuen Simpson, Gomberoff Bell Lyon, and Neale Staniszkis Doll Adams. BC Housing will require that all 12 towers meet LEED Gold environmental standards, and be "greenhouse gas neutral."

Non-profits to run buildings

The city and province will jointly select a team of non-profit housing organizations to lease and manage the new apartment buildings. Those so-called "sponsors" are expected to include some of the same groups recently selected to operate the ten residential hotels BC Housing bought last spring. The operators will be required to staff the new buildings 24-7, with staff sizes varying according to building size and tenant profile.

One-third to one-half of the apartments in each building will be supportive housing, at which additional staff support residents recovering from addiction and/or mental illness. The rest of the small, self-contained apartments will be let to low-income singles at risk of homelessness.

Two of the 12 towers are expected to be "low-barrier" facilities that would shelter the hardest-to-house individuals. One of these is slated to replace the recently shuttered Marie Gomez Place on the corner of Alexander and Princess streets.

The plan is similar to Vancouver's Supportive Housing Strategy, a model the The Tyee advocated accelerating when it went to council in June.

Critic "leery" of privatization

The city is putting $50 million worth of land into the deal, plus $7 million toward the cost of ground floor commercial space and more than $160,000 worth of staff time to expedite the permits. The deal also calls for the city to forgo taxes on the 12 towers, a loss of revenue estimated at $1 million a year.

Construction costs are estimated at $300 million, according to the city report, while on-going operating subsidies are figured at $10 million a year.

The deal "assumes that the Province and its other partners (the Federal Government, corporate and private donors, non-profit housing and service providers) will provide funding to build and operate the Projects in 2008," according to the memorandum, which adds, "The funding will include the half of the net proceeds from the redevelopment of Little Mountain Housing Project to be invested in the City."

This lack of committed funding drew harsh words from MLA David Chudnovsky, housing critic for the provincial New Democratic Party.

"This is a deal that once again has no housing in it," Chudnovsky said. "It divides pre-development costs and defines post-development organization, but delivers no homes for people who need them."

Chudnovsky said he was also "leery" of what looked like "steps toward the privatization of social housing" in the vaguely worded memo.

"This memo provides a clue as to why BC Housing is in such a rush to evict residents from Little Mountain," Chudnovsky added. "They're simply selling off one social housing project to pay for another."

'We're gonna get it done'

Minister Coleman said the lack of committed funding is merely a technicality.

"I can't make a commitment on behalf of government in a fiscal sense until I know that the building is actually ready to go," Coleman told The Tyee. "But I know that within our fiscal framework, we can make these things happen. And that's what our intention is to do."

Coleman said he is working to bring federal and private funding partners into the deal: "We don't want to be the only ones at the dance." But he specifically denied that funding for the 12 towers is contingent on money from Ottawa, the AWOL Dobell plan, the Little Mountain sale, or anything other than Vancouver's approval of development permits.

"If Vancouver gets six sites ready in the next year, we'll fund six buildings. If they get 12 sites ready, we'll fund 12 buildings," Coleman said. "We're gonna get it done."

NIMBYs neighbours waiting in wings

Chudnovsky was also critical of the deal's Olympic dream.

"I laughed when I read the timeline," Chudnovsky said. "Neither do I believe they will actually break ground in the fall of 2008, nor do I believe that if they do begin construction in late 2008 they will finish any of these 100-unit buildings by mid-2010."

Twelve New Towers

New housing for the homeless is being planned for the following 12 sites. Unit totals are approximate, and likely to change during design process.


505 Abbott St. 120

675-691 E. Broadway 100

1134 Burrard St. 100

3212-28 Dunbar St. 50

1607-15 West 7th Ave. 80

1050 Expo Blvd. 100

1233-51 Howe St. 100

606 Powell St. 100

1721-23 Main St. 80

215-225 W. 2nd Ave. 100

1308 Seymour St. 100

590 Alexander St. 100

Total 1,130


Source: BC Housing.

The NDP critic noted that even when these 1,100-odd homes are finished, BC Housing will still fall short of providing the 3,200 new units called for by VANOC's own housing committee.

Yet to be heard from are Vancouver's legions of neighbourhood critics, whose passion for guerrilla-style NIMBYism is legendary. One year ago this month, 500 angry Westsiders turned out for a meeting of the Dunbar Residents Association in response to rumours that supportive housing would be built on a city owned site on Dunbar at 16th. Subsequent fearmongering spawned an anonymous entity called NIABY -- Not In Anyone's Back Yard --- that crusades against what it calls "housing projects for drug addicts" citywide. What was then a rumour is now a deal awaiting council approval.

The 12-tower deal provides three opportunities for concerned citizen groups to express themselves: at the Dec. 12 council meeting, at neighbourhood meetings slated for February, and at the Development Permit Board, which is expected to review these fast-track applications in June of 2008.

The deal is nonetheless likely to be approved by Vancouver City Council. It was crafted by the ruling Non-Partisan Association, and is supported by opposition councillors including Vision Vancouver's Raymond Louie.

"This is a step in the right direction," Louie said, quickly adding, "Until the province commits the money, there is no assurance that any of these units will be built."

I don't think we're done here

Coleman said the Vancouver deal has been in the works for more than a year, and that similar deals are pending across the province.

"Vancouver gets a lot of the focus, but we're also working with Victoria on three sites, with Kelowna on a site, with Surrey on two or three sites," Coleman said. Other B.C. communities have expressed interest, he said, but "nobody else has come forward with a piece of land."

In addition to these new buildings, BC Housing continues to acquire existing buildings across the province. In much the same way he purchased 10 residential hotels last spring, Coleman has subsequently acquired buildings in Kamloops, North Vancouver and Quesnel.

Provincial housing expenditures have grown from $125 million to more than $350 million annually since Coleman assumed the portfolio only two years ago.

"I don't think we're done here," Coleman said. "We continue to do."

deasine
Nov 11, 2007, 7:15 AM
not bad I like that.... much needed... looks like they are trying to clean up the face of van by 2010

MistyMountainHop
Nov 11, 2007, 9:07 PM
Let's hope there won't be too many problems with NIMBYs.

deasine
Nov 11, 2007, 10:18 PM
You know it's interesting when we actually have housing units built or planned to be built that the anti-poverty committee and the opposition doesn't say anything... All they do is complain complain and complain more and more.

SpongeG
Nov 11, 2007, 10:31 PM
I was just in Portland and I saw a lot of homeless people sleeping at night - in doorways under bridges etc. more so than i ever have seen here - perhaps i am not looking in the right spots here?? but their problem seems to me to be more visible than the one here - i don't know what the numbers are for each city

SFUVancouver
Nov 12, 2007, 2:54 AM
I was in Portland for a week this summer and when I saw my first homeless person on the street I honestly thought "good, I'm glad we're not the only city with problems."

On the other hand I never saw any crazies in Portland like you see in Vancouver. By crazies I mean the guys and girls who have utterly cooked their brains on meth and crack to the point where they are no longer a functioning part of civil society to any degree. No civility, seemingly no fear of consequences, and certainly no intention to let anything stand in the way of their next fix.

deasine
Nov 12, 2007, 2:56 AM
I was in Portland for a week this summer and when I saw my first homeless person on the street I honestly thought "good, I'm glad we're not the only city with problems."

On the other hand I never saw any crazies in Portland like you see in Vancouver. By crazies I mean the guys and girls who have utterly cooked their brains on meth and crack to the point where they are no longer a functioning part of civil society to any degree. No civility, seemingly no fear of consequences, and certainly no intention to let anything stand in the way of their next fix.

and that's the unique aspect of the problem in Vancouver. We should build more houses, that's good, but more imporantly, we need an actual mental hopsital/institute.

mr.x
Nov 12, 2007, 3:06 AM
round them up like sheep and put them all on "Habitat Island" in False Creek....the naming is perfect btw. :D

but before doing that, dredge up the path to the city so that it'll still be flooded during low tide.

Stingray2004
Nov 12, 2007, 4:39 AM
Just another article that came out one hour ago... I kinda think it's good to hear a further reaffirmation...

_________________________________________________________________

Social housing sites put on fast-track

Frances Bula, Vancouver Sun
Published: Sunday, November 11, 2007

Vancouver's housing director says a social-housing construction boom is underway in the city that hasn't been seen since the years just before B.C.'s housing program was cut in 2001.

"We haven't had this level of production since the late '90s," said Cameron Gray, as he contemplated stretching his staff to deal with 12 new housing sites that were officially put on a fast-track process this week by the city and province.

Gray said city staff will be going flat out as they try to ensure six of those sites, with 600 units among them, have buildings ready for occupation by mid-2010. That's at the same time as 2,000 other units are already at different stages in the pre-construction phase and as the other six, more complex sites are going through the fast-track process.

"The chances of getting [the first six sites] built by the Olympics is going to be tough, so it's more likely the summer of 2010," said Gray.

He wasn't sure when the next six sites might be completed. But ultimately, it means that 3,200 new social-housing units will be coming on stream in the next four to five years.

That's such a change of direction for the B.C. Liberal government that hardly anyone outside the busy city planning department and B.C. Housing can believe it.

NDP housing critic David Chudnovsky dismissed this week's announcement about the fast-track agreement as another "housing announcement with no housing," since the provincial government officially announced only the money for pre-construction design and planning.

And David Eby, a Pivot Legal Society lawyer, said it's sometimes difficult to believe the money will actually be there when it comes time to actually build the sites. "We've been hearing rumours of major funding announcements for months, and then it has never come through."

But if it turns out to be true, it's wonderful news, said Eby. "And what's crossed my mind is that this is a significant reversal of housing policy."

Housing Minister Rich Coleman confirmed the province will proceed directly to construction on all 12 sites as soon as they are through the city's processes.

"Our intention is to amortize these projects and get them done. We can do that through our borrowing capacity," said Coleman.

Gray said the first six sites likely to get to the construction stage are the ones in the Downtown South, International Village, 16th and Dunbar, Seventh and Fir and Expo Boulevard.

The current 3,200 units in production will have one-third to one-half of the units dedicated to people who need support services.

Almost all of it will be geared to the poorest - people who have incomes of $25,000 or less. And the units will be small.

mr.x
Nov 13, 2007, 12:31 AM
Social housing sites put on fast track
3,200 units mostly geared to the poor will be built over the next four to five years

Frances Bula, Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, November 12, 2007

Vancouver's housing director says a social-housing construction boom is under way in the city that hasn't been seen since the years just before B.C.'s housing program was cut in 2001.

"We haven't had this level of production since the late '90s," said Cameron Gray, as he contemplated stretching his staff to deal with 12 new housing sites that were officially put on a fast-track process last week by the city and province.

Gray said city staff will be going flat out as they try to ensure six of those sites, with 600 units among them, have buildings ready for occupation by mid-2010. That's at the same time as 2,000 other units are already at different stages in the pre-construction phase and as the other six, more complex sites are going through the fast-track process.

"The chances of getting [the first six sites] built by the Olympics is going to be tough, so it's more likely the summer of 2010," said Gray. He wasn't sure when the next six sites might be completed.

But ultimately, it means that 3,200 new social-housing units will be coming on stream in the next four to five years. That's such a change of direction for the B.C. Liberal government that hardly anyone outside the busy city planning department and B.C. Housing can believe it.

NDP housing critic David Chudnovsky dismissed last week's announcement about the fast-track agreement as another "housing announcement with no housing," since the provincial government officially announced only the money for pre-construction design and planning.

And David Eby, a Pivot Legal Society lawyer, said it's sometimes difficult to believe the money will actually be there when it comes time to build the sites.

"We've been hearing rumours of major funding announcements for months, and then it has never come through." But if it turns out to be true, it's wonderful news, said Eby.

"And what's crossed my mind is that this is a significant reversal of housing policy."

Housing Minister Rich Coleman confirmed the province will proceed directly to construction on all 12 sites as soon as they are through the city's processes.

"Our intention is to amortize these projects and get them done. We can do that through our borrowing capacity," said Coleman.

Gray said the first six sites likely to get to the construction stage are the ones in the Downtown South, International Village, 16th and Dunbar, Seventh and Fir and Expo Boulevard.

The current 3,200 units in production will have one-third to one-half of the units dedicated to people who need support services. Almost all of it will be geared to the poorest -- people who have incomes of $25,000 or less. And the units will be small.

fbula@png.canwest.com


© The Vancouver Sun 2007

bugsy
Nov 18, 2007, 9:28 AM
Knowing the bleeding-heart side of the political spectrum, they go I WANT FREE APARTMENTS I WANT FREE FOOD I WANT FREE MONEY BAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW in any event.

mr.x
Dec 14, 2007, 12:50 AM
it never ends......



Public wants more housing, meeting hears
1,200 new units is, at best, a small first step, overflow crowd says

Christina Montgomery, The Province
Published: Thursday, December 13, 2007

They want the 1,200 new units of social housing the city has promised.

They just don't want the city's plan to end there, and they don't want other cheap housing to disappear in the meantime.

That was the message from an overflow crowd that jammed Vancouver City Hall last night to caution councillors that the city's plan to hand over 12 sites for social housing was, at best, a small first step.

Under the plan, the city would lease 12 sites it now owns, for 60 years, to non-profit groups to oversee 1,200 small units of social and supportive housing. Seven of the sites are in the Downtown Eastside.

The province has promised money to fast-track development costs and planning for the sites, and to build the units, starting with six of them next year -- although the provincial government has yet to actually set aside the construction money.

The tiny suites would be offered to a mix of singles, many of them with addictions or mental-health problems and in need of support.

The plan also says non-profits would pay no property taxes and the city would pay for environmental cleanup on the sites.

The first of 100 planned speakers launched a broadside on the plan last night with criticisms ranging from the need for more units and family friendly suites to the need for smoke-free buildings and a full moratorium on conversion of the city's present cheap hotel rooms.

Wendy Pedersen of the Carnegie Community Action Project told council that despite its promises for a social-housing plan, it appeared the real intention was the "bulldozer plan."

"You seem to want to upscale our neighbourhood," Pedersen said, adding that the "faulty numbers" the city used to represent the

number of units being planned is "insulting."

The public hearing continues tonight, with another booked tentatively for next week to accommodate remaining speakers.

leftside
Dec 14, 2007, 6:33 PM
> Wendy Pedersen of the Carnegie Community Action Project told council
> that despite its promises for a social-housing plan, it appeared the
> real intention was the "bulldozer plan."
> "You seem to want to upscale our neighbourhood," Pedersen said
I'd love to see the "bulldozer plan" for the DTES, but despite the worst "fears" of Wendy I doubt it will happen.

So Wendy, what is wrong with improving a neighbourhood? Oh let me guess. If this neighbourhood is improved then you'll be out of work along with a bunch of other non-profit organizations who need poor people to ensure government funding?

Jacques
Dec 15, 2007, 3:11 AM
OH Leftside with such great eloquence you made your statement, truly I like it a lot, it so true that many anti-poverty group(s) and non profit org depends on funding from the three level of Government case in point " the gathering Place" and all the little so call institutions around the DTN area
well put
thanks

mr.x
Dec 21, 2007, 8:05 AM
Vancouver approves 1,200 social and supportive housing units

Randy Shore, Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, December 20, 2007

VANCOUVER - It took more than 15 years to assemble the property and three nights of public forums to let everyone have their say, but council finally passed a motion this week to create 1,200 social and supportive housing units on 12 city-owned properties.

"It really is a miracle to have development get underway on all 12 of these sites at the same time," Mayor Sam Sullivan said.

The City of Vancouver has stepped up with $50 million worth of land and forged a partnership with the provincial housing authority to fast-track design and construction of the buildings.

Half of the buildings could be completed before Vancouver hosts the 2010 Winter Olympics and nearly all will be under construction by then.

"I think this project is going to be the real legacy of the 2010 Olympics," said Sullivan, who's made homelessness one of his top priorities since becoming mayor two years ago.

"I have told the federal and provincial governments that Vancouver is going to represent the country [in 2010] and I don't think you want the world to see what we've got right now."

The mayor's civil city project to reduce public disorder set a goal of reducing homelessness by 50 per cent before 2010. In 2005, the city's homeless action plan set a goal of creating 3,600 supportive and transitional housing units over 10 years.

The most recent figures on homelessness estimate over 2,000 live on the streets of Vancouver.

Sullivan said that between this partnership with the province, the purchase of 10 Downtown Eastside hotels and recent federal announcements on housing projects for first nations, Vancouver is close to attaining those goals ahead of schedule.

Other lines of attack like drug substitution programs, beefed up drug treatment programs and the community court due to open in 2008 should also help reduce the number of people living on the streets, Sullivan said.

"The lesson from New York and other places suggests that you can help people connect with resources through the legal system and reduce homelessness," he explained.

Although many of the 113 registered speakers at the public forums were concerned housing people with addictions and mental illness outside the Downtown Eastside would spread mayhem to the city's neighbourhoods, councillors were unanimous in their support of the project.

"These kinds of projects enhance the safety of neighbourhoods," said Coun. Kim Capri.

When people are properly housed and facilities are staffed 24-hours-a-day there is simply more scrutiny, she said.

Many of the people who live in social and supportive housing must agreed to certain conditions, such as avoiding drugs and alcohol and taking proper medication as a condition of tenancy, Capri added.

"We know the people of Vancouver support this," said Sullivan. "We also recognize that housing is in the provincial mandate, but if you want action from the province on this file you have to come to the table with something."

Something, in this case, is tens of millions of dollars worth of prime urban real estate. City staff believe construction on at least six of the sites will be underway by the end of 2008.

All of the sites will require new construction of buildings with 50 to 120 units, most of them studio apartments with a kitchen and bathroom. Buildings in shopping districts will be built with commercial retail space on the ground floor, which will be leased by the city as a financial investment.

To be eligible, potential tenants must be defined as a single persons in core need, having to pay more than 30 per cent of their gross income for shelter.

rshore@png.canwest.com





but noooooo, it's not enough because we'll still have those same individuals complaining there's not enough social housing.:koko:

zivan56
Dec 21, 2007, 8:28 AM
It boggles the mind why they feel they are entitled to live in one of the most expensive cities in the world. They could go to the interior or even the suburbs and actually be able to get: housing they could afford, a job requiring unskilled workers, and most importantly of all get out of the ghettos that they currently live in. I understand making housing more affordable for people with children, disabilities, or mental conditions...but crackheads and people who don't want to work; I have no sympathy for.

hollywoodnorth
Dec 24, 2007, 4:24 AM
Go Sam Go!
Go Gordo Go!