Vancouver is an amazing city, attracting people from across Canada and around the world.
But despite all the construction happening around us, everyone but the very wealthy is finding it harder and harder to find affordable housing.
As your mayor, housing affordability is my number one priority.
My entire academic and professional career has focussed on cities and housing. I’ve worked in the City of Vancouver planning department. My PhD from the London School of Economics was about cities. I’ve written books and taught about cities as an SFU professor. I’ve provided policy advice to municipal, provincial, and national governments and the United Nations.
Over the last 10 years, we’ve seen what happens when we let market forces alone control the housing market. We need a different perspective. This plan is the result of months of extensive consultation with renters, homeowners, architects, small developers and non-profits. It’s comprehensive, it’s achievable, and it’ll mean true affordability for the people who live here.
"As your mayor, housing affordability is my number one priority."
My plan is to prioritize non-profit housing solutions that are affordable to people with low-to-medium incomes, while at the same time encouraging the for-profit housing industry to provide homes within reach of first-time, local homebuyers.
To accomplish these goals, we need immediate and effective policies focussing on the demand for housing, and the supply of housing.
In terms of demand, we need to take tough measures to fight the speculation that is rampant in our city. This includes getting big money influence out of city hall and protecting our local housing market from global financial forces and speculators.
In terms of supply, we need to build more affordable housing – the kind of homes that are accessible to all incomes. I’m focused on immediately getting to work building rental housing run by non-profits to house our workforce; cooperative housing for families; and supportive housing for the homeless and those with mental health and addiction issues.
I’m also working to expedite the construction of market housing, with a focus on adding thousands of new market rental units.
To make sure our city works for everyone, we need to make sure we have housing that’s affordable for everyone.