Every single day I hear from people struggling to find affordable housing. Sometimes the first issue they raise with me is MSP fee hikes, or being unable to pay for essential medications as well as food, or the challenge of accessing mental health services for a loved one. But the housing crisis is part of almost everyone’s story.
I’ve heard from people who have waited nine years for a B.C. Housing unit. Non-profit housing providers can’t keep up with increasing demand as more and more people are priced out of market housing. I’ve heard from seniors and people on fixed incomes who simply can’t afford to have their rent raised every year and families housed in units that are far too small.
I’m hearing more about renovictions – as well as “move-out clauses” in leases which mean that, after one year, tenants aren’t protected by provincial rent controls. At that point, the landlord can offer a new contract at whatever rate they see fit – and the tenant has to move out if they can’t afford to pay.
Shockingly, we also are seeing more frail seniors in homeless shelters, an issue I raised in the legislature calling on the government to act to ensure our elders are treated with more dignity and respect.
I’ve met with hard-working small business owners who are trying to buy a home for their young family. But even with a combined income of $100,000, they’re priced out of the housing market.
It is because of stories like these that I held a townhall on housing affordability on Sept. 8. Nearly 100 people took part in a lively discussion about issues and potential solutions.
We are fortunate to live in a city that has taken strong action to protect rental stock and create affordable housing. But the provincial government has ignored this escalating crisis for years. Finally, this summer, they introduced some short-sighted knee-jerk legislation, ignoring the more wide-ranging and elegant solutions – proposed by the official Opposition and supported by experts – that would effectively address housing speculation. We also need changes to the Residential Tenancy Act that would protect renters from renovictions and close the loophole on one-year tenancies.
Working families shouldn’t be forced to move out of New Westminster to find housing that meets their needs. I believe we can have an affordable, livable community. It’s time for higher levels of government to step up to the plate.
Judy Darcy is the MLA for New Westminster.
