Yesterday the City of Vancouver released its “Housing and Homelessness Strategy”:
The views and opinions heard during this public and stakeholder engagement were used to shape the Housing & Homelessness Strategy… Building on what the City has learnt from past practices and policies and what we heard during Talk Housing With Us, the Strategy focuses on three strategic directions:1. Increase the supply of affordable housing2. Encourage a housing mix across all neighbourhoods that enhances quality of life3. Provide strong leadership and support partners to enhance housing stabilityThe Strategy addresses the entire housing continuum with the City committed to improving choice and affordability for all residents and in all neighbourhoods across the city. The housing continuum consists of the range of housing options available to households of all income levels, from emergency shelters for people who are homeless to affordable home ownership options for key workers with moderate incomes.
All income levels except those have above-moderate incomes. Or am I missing something? Apparently…
… the continuum doesn’t seem to include cooperatives, rented detached and rented attached dwellings. When the City talks about a “range of housing options available to households of all income levels”, we should separate what a family is willing to pay and what a family is able to pay to live in the City. On this front, unfortunately, the City is unwilling to deal with its rampant land hoarding and speculation addiction. If they want to join SpecAnon, the door is always open.
