Thread by @YVRTenantsUnion

UPDATE: Minister @selinarobinson has rejected request from @CityofVancouver council to implement #VacancyControl in SRO housing.

1/6

The minister is concerned that rents tied to units will “reduce investment in needed repairs” on private SROs, citing the 2018 #RentalHousingTaskForce conclusions. This boilerplate response is disappointing and fails to grasp the issues with private SRO maintenance 2/6

A lack of basic maintenance already exists in many SROs.

This is why groups like @dtes_collab formed.

This is why Vancouver shut down and expropriated Sahota-owned Balmoral and Regent hotels.

This is why this BC gov’t bought and renovated two SRO bldgs

3/6

Despite critical habitability issues, SRO average rents went up 37% between 2013-17, pushing the province’s most vulnerable tenants out. Meanwhile, homeless count has clearly eclipsed new modular housing units coming online 4/6

Vancouver city council understands the systemic and ongoing maintenance issues with private SROs, which is why the vote to implement vacancy control was unanimous. Now the Province is blocking what tenants need for ideological reasons 5/6

Please write to Minister @selinarobinson and ask @bcndp to support #VacancyControl for the 3K tenants living in private SROs who are at dire risk of homelessness as rents continue to rise: Bit.ly/SROfullrc

#housingcrisis #bcpoli #vanpoli

CC: @vancouverdlc @COPEVancouver @OneCityVan @VanGreens @BC_ACORN @bcgeu @UniteHere40