Our non-profit organization spent many thousands of dollars complying with Elections BC laws to run a non-partisan campaign.
A local bazillionaire was fined $600 for ignoring the law.
Cool. π
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
@jfatkey.bsky.social
Housing advocate by day and night. CEO at BCNPHA, Director at Rental Protection Fund, Community Housing Transformation Centre, Boann Social Impact, Community Housing Coverage, and Chartered Institute of Housing Canada.
Our non-profit organization spent many thousands of dollars complying with Elections BC laws to run a non-partisan campaign.
A local bazillionaire was fined $600 for ignoring the law.
Cool. π
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Spot on. π
βI would also say, however, that focusing on immigrants is an easy way, to be totally frank, to turn the attention away from deep structural problems such as a lack of affordable housing," Irene Bloemraad said.
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/exp...
Hang on. I can build a detached house anywhere even if it doesnβt suit the character of the neighbourhood?! π
18.07.2025 17:27 β π 4 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0It's not strong logic, but at least slightly more logical than any other interpretation in this head scratching decision.
And yes, it's difficult not to read more into the decision.
When something defies any definition of logic, people are left to wonder if there might be some other reason for opposing these homes. π€
16.07.2025 14:36 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0Full story: tricitiesdispatch.com/residents-di...
16.07.2025 12:49 β π 5 π 1 π¬ 0 π 0With respect, something is very broken if this statement carries any logic.
Somehow there is municipal revenue to be gained by paying $40K per stall to construct unused parking?
Also, municipal and provincial taxpayers are the same people.
And donβt get me started on the cost of homelessness.
I donβt think Iβll ever understand why people hate housing so much.
13.06.2025 04:25 β π 42 π 11 π¬ 3 π 0On updating the Downtown Eastside Area Plan, the Mayor said: "this allows for the integration of the DTES neighbourhood into Vancouver's broader community, ensuring a more balanced, supportive environment for residents, businesses, and visitors."
Reversing course on the Arbutus supportive housing development isn't a surprise given Council's actions in recent months.
Here were the Mayor's words in January. If this actually the plan, it would seem appropriate for the City to double down on supportive housing city-wide. So what is the plan?
If there is a lot more building going on and we continue to scale back on immigration targets the real pinch point for housing will be in construction labour. Skilled trades and training investments will be vital. We can expect a Liberal government with a new mandate to double down here.
29.04.2025 14:24 β π 2 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0Iβm not sure what their plans are for the Housing Accelerator Fund, but this may be a more direct way of getting funds to municipalities. If they end up moving away from the Accelerator Fund, expect the work that municipalities have been doing with these dollars to stop midstream.
29.04.2025 14:21 β π 0 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0Development cost charges will come down. The big question with these charges is who will pay for necessary infrastructure. The Liberal platform cracks this nut with a commitment to making municipalities whole for the five years that these charges are reduced.
29.04.2025 14:18 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0$25B in financing for prefabricated home builders in Canada: a focus on Canadian technologies and resources is critical given the existential threat we face, and the pre-fab industry will invest in itself if they have certainty in their pipeline. This has the potential to help with scale.
29.04.2025 14:16 β π 2 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0The loss of these incentives in the 1980s were a key ingredient for the rental housing crisis we see today. Weβve seen incentives in other forms over the last decade, but these are likely to be helpful nonetheless.
29.04.2025 14:15 β π 2 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0The Liberals have committed to reintroducing incentives for purpose built rental and this is a good way of supporting the private sector to help government achieve its goals.
29.04.2025 14:14 β π 0 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0Iβd feel better about this commitment if non-profit and co-op housing providers were at the centre of it. The Federal government has increasingly been opening up their programs to the private sector with no protections for long-term affordability. This is where the NDP/GR/BQ can push the Liberals.
29.04.2025 14:12 β π 12 π 2 π¬ 1 π 0A bar graph and description showing that break-even rents for a new development are $1949 per month. Federal/provincial capital contributions totaling almost $11.5M and an annual operating subsidy bring the rents down to $1307 per month.
$10B in low-cost financing and capital for affordable homes. A few thoughts on this one: The ratio of financing and capital is going to matter a lot. Financing matters, but itβs the capital that creates affordability on new projects. A look at what brings down rents on this project in Delta:
29.04.2025 14:11 β π 3 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0A Federal government thatβs in the business of building homes for the first time in generations. Big ticket commitments are critical to solving the crisis, but getting this machine up, running, and making a noticeable impact will take time. That time will be measured in years not months.
29.04.2025 14:08 β π 3 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0Well that was a night π«£
With the election now behind us, we now have some clarity and as always, new questions about how Federal housing policy will shape up in the years ahead. Some thoughts on what a new Liberal government will mean for housing: π
Great news from Penticton! City council unanimously approved 10-year property tax exemptions on non-profit housing. Actions like these help reduce rents in new and existing affordable housing developments. π
pub-penticton.escribemeetings.com/filestream.a...
Another building and 25 affordable homes move into the non-profit housing sector, where affordability can be protected in perpetuity. Congratulations Connective Support Society, @rentalprofund.bsky.social and the Province of BC π
cfjctoday.com/2025/04/23/c...
βAfter all, isnβt it precisely when the world feels out of control that our need for the safety and security of home is felt most acutely?β
24.04.2025 03:26 β π 3 π 1 π¬ 0 π 1And that was just the first night!
24.04.2025 03:25 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0Yes.
22.04.2025 23:53 β π 3 π 1 π¬ 0 π 0Iβll miss your stories, but already looking forward to your next book. Congratulations Chris!
09.04.2025 02:40 β π 0 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0Semi-regular reminder from someone who sat through another five hour public hearing on affordable housing last night:
No matter where you live or what type of housing you live in, people opposed your home before it was built.
The biggest miss in Budget 2025 is the continuing failure to commit to a fully funded Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy. Housing Central partners urge the provincial government to take immediate action to address this glaring omission.
05.03.2025 17:53 β π 10 π 2 π¬ 0 π 0If ever there was a time to eliminate the nearly $1B Homeowner's Grant it would be now. Those dollars could be far more productive if invested into non-profit and co-op housing development. This is what we want to be doubling down on in times of uncertainty.
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That said, an opportunity was missed to stimulate the economy and promote job growth through increased investment in affordable housing. Housing investment is a significant contributor to the provinceβs GDP, and building new homes is a proven method of boosting job growth.
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The rent supplement increases announced in Budget 2025 will have an immediate, positive impact on affordability for seniors and 2,800 working low-income families. These increases will also address a growing gap in the rent supplement suite of programs that have not kept pace with rising rents.
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