List of Ideas Shared to BC’s Poverty Reduction Consultation

List of Ideas Shared to BC's Poverty Reduction Consultation

This document contains a list of ideas that British Columbians submitted to BC's poverty reduction consultations during the public engagement process, October 30, 2017 to March 31, 2018. It is organized by theme and includes verbatim comments from communities across the province, people living in poverty, First Nations and Indigenous people and organizations, community groups, and other stakeholders. It has been edited for repetition.

AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING AND TENANCY

Affordable Housing

? Safe, affordable, inclusive housing needs to be built. ? Adopt a policy of universal basic housing. ? New social and co-op housing to accommodate those in poverty or homeless. ? Affordable housing that permits children and animals is number 1. ? Affordable housing that's in a safe environment. Affordable housing should be in

all areas of the city not just in the "hood". ? Affordable safe clean housing is a paramount need. Geared to income housing

where mixed economic and social background live together in a neighbourhood environment. ? Interest free loan so people can buy a home instead of paying rent every month. ? [...] we believe that the province should work with all levels of government to build affordable rental housing, including co-ops. ? A free market for housing has done the majority of British Columbians NO FAVORS and anything built to address the housing shortage should have it's price fixed to inflation and have measures to ensure wealthy groups do not purchase all of the supply. ? A steady stream of affordable and subsidized housing coming online. $1900$2500 /month is NOT affordable as recently stated by councilors in Vancouver. ? Tiny house, pipes turned into homes, use crown land, shipping containers. ? Looking at housing programs in Europe aimed at reducing homelessness/poverty by providing crown land and interest free loans which allow people to sustain themselves. ? Diversity of housing options fully supported, subsidized, mixed market, co-op, reduced market. ? We recommend more support to subsidize housing costs for renters with lowincomes. The introduction of a range of different models for subsidizing housing, including subsidies attached to particular rental units (or the person) are

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necessary to address barriers to housing faced by people living with lowincomes. ? Base co-operative housing charges on actual income instead of gross revenue. Changing these guidelines to reflect actual income vs gross income would allow more women to start and grow their own businesses while living in affordable housing ;and being able to not just "get by" enabling them to eventually move out of affordable housing and opening up space for other families. ? End policies that enforce 2 year housing. ? Separate families from drug users. ? Build more affordable housing and mix it with other levels of income. ? Build more low cost housing for Aboriginal people. ? Build more low income housing for families. ? Commit to building at least 10, 000 affordable homes per year. ? Convert surplus government buildings to affordable apartments. ? Develop a student-specific definition of housing affordability. ? Build more social and affordable rental housing, while better protecting renters from rent-related or renovation evictions. ? Extend SAFER to include housing charges [rents] in non-profit Co-operative housing. ? Decrease costs for housing/rent. ? Fund locally designed pilot projects to create and manage small-scale affordable housing projects in-line with Housing First best practices. ? Offer 3 to 5 year funding to manage Housing First based micro/macro projects. ? Housing Sharing ? register for people looking for housing; people looking to share housing. Safe regulated program to vet people looking to share housing/looking for shared housing. Government run/funded. ? Fund massive investments in non-market housing through corporate and wealth taxes. ? Government must do the utmost to build more affordable home within 3 years. A ten year plan is extremely long for the people in need. ? Enhancing and expand rental subsidies and other income supports to families living in or near poverty to reduce housing insecurity. ? Better protect renters from rent-related or renovation evictions. ? Have low income housing available at income assistance rates. ? Investing in affordable housing, rent control, and appropriate housing supports. ? Housing strategy, possibly an affordable housing ownership strategy as a longterm solution through interest free loans/mortgages, instead of rent. This will create stable and sustainable communities. ? Invest in affordable housing by creating modular housing units that can be adapted to suit the needs of different residents (families, the disabled, seniors, the working poor, etc.) and tie rents to incomes. ? Address the housing crisis: Government owned low-income housing, instead of SRO owners that take advantage of clients, better living conditions; Better regulation and management of SROs and conditions of buildings; More

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supportive housing and programs for those dealing with addictions, better management and monitoring of the programs. ? More access to services such as the Rent Bank. ? House first model for Terrace - develop local coordinated access system, coaches from the Canadian Alliance to end Homelessness and the 20,000 homes campaign framework. ? Match the SAFER grants and eligibility to the amount of rent increases as well as the maximum qualifying rent. ? More affordable accessible housing for people with disabilities. ? More affordable pet-friendly housing. ? More affordable housing built for families and seniors. ? Develop housing for the difficult to house. ? Have cities come forward with property to house homeless. ? Small (under 100 sq. foot) houses for people who are homeless. ? National Housing Strategy. ? Create modular housing; improve rental availability; improve locations for social housing in communities outside Vancouver; make it more affordable to rent/own. ? Put more dollars into housing in order to build more and better homes. ? In short term address shortfall with temporary housing. ? Better housing renovation on and off reserve. ? Build more student residences to reduce pressure on rental units. ? Incentivize building of economical housing options. ? Invest in Tiny House Warriors to build house for low-income families on their traditional lands. ? Tax the people who own multiple properties and ARE NOT renting them out to year-round tenants. ? Keep rent increases at 2 percent or lower per year. ? New housing starts should include a percentage for affordable housing. ? Have a provincial definition of affordable housing. ? Need for development and access to more senior appropriate housing that is affordable, safe and supportive. ? More affordable, SROs, for elders, for singles. ? Housing built by people getting training for jobs. ? Reduce wait times for housing. ? BC Housing, or city, buy vacant buildings for more BC Housing. ? It would be great if the gov't assessed the person's level of need and put them into a affordable housing system. ? Shorten time to wait for housing on reserve ? took 20 years, 15 year waitlist. ? Government cap 1/3 of income to rent, government subsidizes difference. ? Communal housing. ? Wider bracket eligibility co-op. ? More Second stage housing. ? Create a mechanism for all levels of government to work on a credible housing strategy.

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? Mandate apartment/building a % low income. ? Encourage affordable housing units by offering incentives for developers and

landlords. ? Portable housing subsidy. ? Identify the issues for safe affordable housing for low income families in Prince

George. Develop a plan to address the relevant issues surrounding safe affordable housing for low income families in Prince George. ? Need to address affordable housing for Metis people in British Columbia. It is recommended that the Provincial government provide funds to MNBC on an annual basis to create Metis specific housing that will offer income based rents. ? Increase Safe and Affordable Social Housing for Families, Elders, Youth and those suffering from Addictions. ? Support the development of co-operative housing (not social, or affordable housing). ? We need housing built specifically for those who are marginalized. ? Build quality, affordable housing in the DTES and everywhere in all neighbourhoods. ? Camp ground designated for people living in poverty, creating a community run by us for us. ? Develop more purpose built rental for low income earners/ employee housing/ rent to own trailer parks or tiny homes/ subsidy not facility based but applied to families living in private market rentals. ? Ensure housing affordability for low income households (employee housing funded by employers, seasonal employee housing). ? More housing for youth in transition. ? Turn abandoned buildings into affordable housing. ? Railroad cars or other structures for housing ( eg modular housing on coast). ? Build more affordable housing units for single people. ? Look at innovative housing options i.e. container housing, Hollyburn Family Service Society's Senior Roommate Registry, etc. ? Rent rebates / tax credit for low income. ? Please allow the welfare and PWD clients access to Rental Assistance Program or increase the rates to 2017 rates. ? The empty home tax should be province wide ? not just in Vancouver. ? Would be nice if pepole on disability could access rental supplement. ? Multi generational housing. ? Provide affordable and safe housing; create third stage options for buying small housing units for individuals and families. ? Provide more low-income housing units, giving priority to single mothers and women escaping violence. Single-mother specific housing resources. ? We need housing on reserve. ? Encourage municipalities to zone for alternative housing solutions. ? Communal housing with shared kitchens/hostel or rooming house model. ? Cover costs like basic home maintenance for people with disabilities because, unlike able bodied people, we have to contract out even minor repairs

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? Create housing communities with shared meals & chores. ? Create more affordable housing options: cooperative housing; incentives for

increasing occupancy of existing space; innovative housing concepts such as tiny homes. ? Need more housing geared to income / for low income; needs to be clean, dry, warm, safe. ? Creating incentives to densify, create second suites. ? Disability housing: 1 bedrooms, housing for caregivers and kids, new buildings up to code. ? Government controlled rental buildings. Make a high percentage of residential land in BC be government owned, and build apartments that a government rental ministry can handle, with staff (more good paying jobs) who help individuals find housing that is based on their income, and lifestyle. ? Foster the creation of aesthetically pleasing housing that become places for healing, rather than institutional-looking spaces that further the stigma of poverty and need to access affordable housing. ? Free land for focused people to homestead and land steward. ? Government encourages additional housing/suites on larger properties ? tax breaks. ? Green tax credits for people living in the city in small housing spaces using less resources. ? Home owners grant for second home with long term tenants ? long term tenancy grant. ? Increase Housing Stock in rural areas. ? Infill housing. ? Intentional communities. ? Legalize `alternative living' situations such as tiny homes, tent cities, RVs, and boats and provide these communities with the same supports the suburbs receive. ? Need housing options located in central areas of the city. ? Mandate that new housing developments must have a percentage of affordable housing units, and/or designated green space and community garden space. ? more affordable housing like Crossroads. ? More affordable housing, not SRO's. ? More government seniors homes in area and special department to handle issues. ? More housing for youth with disabilities. ? Difficult to have affordable rentals if one group or business has a monopoly on the market and can set rates at whatever price; affordable housing should be for all ages and demographics. ? More native housing for elders and families. ? Restore/renovate small boats to live aboard. ? Subsidized COOP rental/ownership program for people to share individual homes with government assistance in helping groups purchase appropriate homes and having a dispute resolution program.

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