The words “housing crisis” have been spoken so often that, to many of us, they’ve been rendered nearly meaningless.
But every time we do a story like the one on page 3 of today’s paper, we’re reminded how very real that crisis is – and how many people it affects in immediate and often heartbreaking ways.
Toni-Leah Yake is just one such person. She’s a resident at Maple Manor, a 15-unit apartment complex in Queen’s Park whose residents have been ordered out so that the owners of the building can renovate.
Toni-Leah is now disputing her eviction notice.
Whatever the outcome of her case, it’s clear that broader changes are needed to help protect vulnerable residents from being tossed out of their homes – places they’ve often lived for decades – in favour of more well-heeled folks who can afford to pay higher rents.
Though “demovictions” (where residents are evicted so that older buildings can be demolished in favour of newer, shinier residences) are less common in New Westminster, the “renoviction” tale is an all-too-common one.
Fortunately, the City of New Westminster is being proactive about the problem. Rather than sitting back and wringing their hands about the need for action by senior levels of government (as a certain neighbouring municipality is wont to do), the city is already taking steps to address the problem – including providing information and guidance for tenants and using stop-work orders and tickets to halt renovation work when necessary approvals aren’t in place.
But larger change can only come on a provincewide level.
We’re pleased that New Westminster has garnered support from the Union of B.C. Municipalities for a resolution that urges the provincial government to undertake a broad review of the Residential Tenancy Act.
And we’re heartened to hear from Selina Robinson, B.C.’s new minister of municipal affairs and housing, that the province is already working on changes that will help to protect tenants.
With vacancy rates at a measly 0.4 per cent in New Westminster and market rents continuing to soar, it’s clear that there won’t be any relief any time soon unless the powers that be are serious about change.
For the sake of Toni-Leah and other renters like her, we hope that change comes sooner rather than later.
