Push for affordable housing creating divide at Vancouver City Hall

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The push for more affordable housing in Vancouver has created a divide at City Hall. The recent approval of a market-rental project on Fraser near East 22nd has prompted more debate about what’s needed most.

Councillor Jean Swanson, a longtime advocate for the homeless, says she voted against the 121-unit development because the rents will be too high.

“We’re approving hundreds – $1,600 for a bachelor to $3,700 for a three-bedroom range – and we’re not approving any for the people who need it most need.”

But Councillor Rebecca Bligh insists those rents aren’t too high for middle class workers who also need housing.

“This particular project was affordable to some,” she says. “The concern is we are not building fast enough what is affordable to our greatest need. It’s not this or that, but it’s this and that.”

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Lisa Dominato, one of seven councillors who support the project, says it’s coming 30 years late.

“Voting against housing projects doesn’t help the housing crisis in my view, so I think we need a diverse range of housing options. We have an incredibly low vacancy rate and more than 50 per cent of our population in Vancouver are renters.”

But Swanson says some renters need to be prioritized.

“Of course everybody needs housing, but let’s not use that excuse to deny housing to the people that need it the most. What’s happening is that all the new supply that’s getting built is really expensive and pushing up rents in those neighbourhoods.”

All three councillors agree more support is needed from Ottawa when it comes to funding non-profit affordable housing in the city.