About Housing Centre

Business Operations – all the socially oriented businesses such as the Gathering Place and non-market housing sites managed by the City.
Housing Policy – researches and develops City housing policy working with government and non-profit partners. Includes the housing outreach program.
Social Infrastructure – facilitates development of facilities (non-market housing, child care, etc).
Social Policy – the development and review of City policy affecting social issues. Also administers operational grants for the non-profit sector.

Housing Policy is responsible for the City of Vancouver’s housing policy, programs and research. The City is focused on partnering with all levels of government and other stakeholders to develop social and supportive housing. The City’s goal is to enlarge the supply of housing in Vancouver with a range of tenures and dwelling types sufficient to meet the needs of a variety of socioeconomic groups. This is part of the City’s efforts to maintain and improve the quality of residential neighbourhoods.

We are located in the Woodwards Heritage Building, Suite 501, 111 West Hastings Street, Vancouver V6B 1H4. We can be reached by phone at 3-1-1 or 604.873.7000 from outside of Vancouver, by fax 604.871.6488, e-mail housing.policy@vancouver.ca.

Support for Social & Supportive Housing

	20% Social Housing Requirement Beginning in 1988, the City has required that major rezonings of lands to multiunit residential use include 20% social housing. This policy encourages the creation of balanced communities and provides opportunities for low and moderate income households to live in conveniently located and comprehensively planned neighbourhoods. This policy has created, to date, a capacity for 2,500 social housing units. 1,100 units have been built or are under construction.
	Affordable Housing Fund In 1981, Council established the Affordable Housing Fund to provide grants for social housing projects developed on City-owned land. By the end of 2003, Council had approved over $40 million in subsidies from the Fund.
	Condominium Conversion Reviews Rental housing can be lost through conversion to condominiums. The City requires that conversions of four units or more be evaluated in the context of housing requirements in the area.
	Lease of City-owned Land There were over 26,000 occupied units of social housing in the City at the end of 2010. The City owns, operates, or has leased land for over 10,000 units of social housing. Over one-third of all social housing in the City is on City-owned land. Projects primarily serve seniors and families with children. Other projects serve the disabled, low-income singles, aboriginals and youth. They are operated by non-profit housing societies and cooperatives using funds from senior governments.
	Operating a Social Housing Portfolio As part of the 21,000 units, the City, through its Non-Market Operations Division, operates 750 units of social housing. Many are for low-income singles in the Downtown. Learn more...
	Purchase of Sites In 1981, Council made the purchase of privately-owned land for social housing a priority. Generally, the purchased land is leased to non-profit societies and co-operatives for 60 years at 75% of market value. In recent years, the City has provided land leases at no cost for some projects.
	Rental Housing Rate of Change The Rental Housing Stock Official Development Plan (RHS ODP) is applicable to certain RM (Multiple Dwelling), FM (Fairview Slopes Multiple Dwelling), and CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) Zoning Districts and serves to manage the rate of change of rental housing in the City of Vancouver by requiring the replacement of rental housing units on multiple dwelling developments consisting of six or more dwelling units. Learn more...
	Research Reports Housing Policy prepares reports to Council on housing and demographic change, and maintains an inventory of SROs & non-market housing in the City. Learn more...
	Short Term Incentives for Rental Housing(STIR) The Short Term Incentives for Rental Housing (STIR) program is a time limited program that responds to the market rental shortage by providing incentives to encourage the development of new market rental housing. Learn more...
	Single Room Accommodation (SRA) By-law This by-law manages the rate of change of low-income housing in Vancouver's Downtown Core. Single room accommodation includes single room occupancy hotels (SROs), rooming houses, and non-market projects with rooms less than 320 square feet. Affected owners are required to obtain approval from Council to demolish or convert SRA designated rooms. Learn more...
	Social Housing for Families with Children In Vancouver, low-income families with children have difficulty in finding suitable accommodation at a rent they can afford. To improve the availability of such housing, the City requires that at least half the social housing units in major projects be designated for families with children.
	Tenant Assistance Program Housing Policy operates a comprehensive Tenant Assistance Program (TAP). The Program provides direct tenant relocation advice and assistance to people with disabilities and others who have been displaced by redevelopment. Legal information on tenant/landlord rights and responsibilities is also offered. You can contact Al Draycott by phone at 604-873-7109 or by e-mail.

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Questions or Comments? E-mail: housing.policy@vancouver.ca