Solving Homelessness

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"Vancouver needs strong political leadership that's committed to ending homelessness. I will take a businesslike approach, set a clear goal and launch a 10-year plan with metrics, milestones, and public reporting. We need this sharp focus to build investor confidence and leverage provincial, federal, corporate, and philanthropic investment in supportive housing.”

Gregor Robertson 

Solving Homelessness

Since taking power, Vision Vancouver has been relentless in pushing for progressive, short-term and long-term solutions to our city's homelessness and affordable housing problems. Mayor Gregor Robertson has set 2015 as the goal for ending homlessness in Vancouver. Our mayor and council were opposed to the previous NPA administration’s cuts to affordable housing in SE False Creek. We have lobbied the federal government, calling for new funding for housing, and championed policies to spark new housing and protect current tenants. Gregor Robertson and Vision Vancouver have the ideas and determination to end homelessness and develop more affordable housing in Vancouver.

Our Record

  • Vision has formed HEAT (Homeless Emergency Action Team), an integrated taskforce of high-level officials to take immediate action on the homeless crisis. The taskforce includes the Mayor, City Councillors, the Chief of Police, the Chief Medical Officer of Vancouver Coastal Health, and the Executive Director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association.
  • Within three months of taking power, Vision opened five emergency low-barrier shelters throughout the city providing beds and a warm place to stay for over 400 homeless people, through partnership agreements with the Province, the Streetohome Foundation, and St. Andrew’s Wesley Church.
  • Vision has pushed for SRO rooms to be inspected twice a year to make sure they are meeting health and safety standards.
  • Vision strongly opposed the previous NPA administration’s cuts of middle and low-income housing from the Southeast False Creek Olympic Village site.
  • Vision was a vocal supporter of the city’s moratorium on converting rental units to stratas.
  • Vision stood up for renters by calling on the Province to grant the right of first refusal on rent increases, as well as to re-open a Residential Tenancy Office in Vancouver.
  • Vision introduced a motion to put a moratorium on converting single-room occupancy hotels, which provide shelter for some of our city’s most vulnerable people.