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July 3, 2009
A community problem
Panel explores solutions for affordable housing.
ELIZABETH NIDER
When our basic needs in life are met, it becomes easy to take them for granted and overlook the fact that many individuals living in and around Vancouver do not have all the essentials to live a functional life – including access to affordable housing.
On June 14, a forum titled Exploring Solutions for Affordable Housing was held at Temple Sholom Synagogue to raise awareness about the need for affordable housing, to build partnerships both within and beyond the Jewish community and to look at possible solutions. Architects Gregory Henriquez and Michael Geller served as the event's keynote speakers and the panel consisted of Jane Heyman, president of Performing Arts Lodge; Karen O'Shannacery, executive director of Lookout Emergency Aid Society; and Alyson Muir, manager of mental health and addiction housing services at Vancouver Coastal Health. The meeting was a follow- up to the housing forum held in 2006, which led to the creation of an 11-unit building now in use, to address the need for housing in the Jewish community. Several creative solutions were tabled and the proposals with the most promise were then categorized into several groups.
The first idea was to offer incentives, including tax incentives, to encourage private options. On a municipal level, this would mean by-law changes that might allow laneway housing and secondary suites, relaxing parking requirements and eliminating cost barriers, such as the demand for sprinkler systems in basement suites.
The second option was to work within the current housing policies – municipalities would focus on land assembly to develop community areas. As well, housing would be recognized as a first step in the continuum of homelessness prevention. As Muir said, "the solution to homelessness is not rocket science – it's housing."
Other proposals were to invest one per cent of the federal budget in affordable housing and to protect current rental housing from condo conversion, decay and unaffordable rents. "The government has to understand this as part of what we need, like hospitals and schools," asserted Muir.
Making financial changes was another idea. This would include revisiting student loan requirements, expanding the shelter portion of income assistance, increasing the density of current sites as co-op and nonprofit housing mortgages expire, and improving fundraising efforts.
The panel agreed that it's not just housing that needs to be built in the community, but relationships as well. The whole community needs to be aware of the need for affordable housing, and that NIMBY ("not in my backyard") attitudes are detrimental to the possibility of change. Participants asserted that members of the community need to advocate for housing and lobby politicians or volunteer to increase awareness and fight public misconceptions about integrating homeless individuals into communities. Heyman explained, "It can be done by people who don't specialize in housing, [what is needed] are people willing to give support and advice."
Muir informed the audience that it is simply not true that building affordable housing will bring more crime and drugs to areas, because "the homeless is as diverse a group [as any] in this room. It is true that people with mental health illnesses and addictions are [a larger] part of homelessness, [but] without housing we can't help people get better."
Creating partnerships was considered an essential part of relationship building. The panelists felt that nonprofit groups, such as Vancouver's Jewish Family Services Agency and Shalom B.C., should work together towards joint solutions and that municipal-provincial partnerships are needed in order to cut back on red tape and move projects forward. It was also suggested that an improvement in communications between synagogues and schools is needed to work out a plan to address the needs of individuals with mental disabilities. O'Shannacery stressed the importance of partnerships and mentioned that at Vancouver Coastal Health, "all of the housing is done with partnerships and they depend on a variety of partnerships."
One of the main points was to encourage the building of affordable housing in all areas of a city, so as to not ghettoize people in need. This would include providing home-sharing opportunities for seniors or youth, providing support services to seniors and individuals with disabilities to allow them to remain in their homes and increasing programs for youth at risk. The panel concluded that the mixing of different demographic and socioeconomic groups would help ensure that affordable-housing residents are less likely to feel isolated.
Elizabeth Nider is a freelance writer living in Richmond.
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