The City of Vancouver has made a significant update to its housing policy, aiming to fast-track the replacement of rooming houses in the Downtown Eastside neighborhood. In a recent decision, the city council altered zoning and development regulations, redefining “social housing” in the area and lowering the minimum number of units required to be rented at income assistance shelter rates.
According to a report presented to the council, these changes are designed to bring the city’s affordability criteria in line with government funding programs, potentially impacting affordability for certain projects while promoting increased development. The escalating costs of constructing affordable housing have led to a reliance on aging single-room occupancy buildings to accommodate low-income individuals at risk of homelessness.
Mayor Ken Sim emphasized the deteriorating state of these buildings and highlighted regulatory obstacles that have hindered the progress of replacement initiatives. The city asserts that the adjustments approved by the council will modernize outdated regulations, facilitating efforts to address the deteriorating housing conditions in one of Vancouver’s most intricate neighborhoods.