Immediate
Release: Oct 22, 2008
Homes for Everyone:
COPE releases
homelessness plan
homeless population has mushroomed in just three years—37 percent more people
are now living on
streets than in 2005.
that includes using Little Mountain’s 200 empty units for social
housing, requiring developers to incorporate 20 percent
affordable housing in new developments, and implementing a replacement policy
for the Downtown Eastside so that for every unit of market housing built, an
equivalent unit of affordable social housing is also constructed.
services to a homeless person, but it only costs $7,300 to $13,370 to provide them supportive,
social housing,” said COPE council candidate Ellen Woodsworth.
bylaws, using the City’s Property Endowment Fund to build more affordable
housing, and freezing conversion of rental accommodation to strata title
condos.
are, frankly, embarrassed that homelessness is growing and affordability is
disappearing,” said COPE Cllr David Cadman. “This NPA council reversed a policy
of one third low-income at South East False Creek and a have stood by while
slum landlords allow their properties to fall apart, necessitating their
closure. It’s unacceptable that good housing—such as that at Little
Mountain—stand vacant while people sleep on the sidewalk.”
Ellen
Woodsworth 604-328-8230
Cllr David Cadman 604-512-1039