Vancouver mayor calls looming homelessness crisis 'national shame'
Globe and Mail
Vancouver- Visitors to Vancouver during the 2010 Olympics will be greeted with an "urban epidemic of poverty" in the city, unless immediate steps are taking to address homeless and housing problems, a report issued today warns. The number of people who are homeless in Vancouver is expected to nearly triple between now and 2010, projects the Pivot Legal Society, an advocacy group for low income residents.
Its report "Cracks in the Foundation," paints a bleak picture of the housing and homeless situation, especially in the notorious Downtown Eastside section of Vancouver.
Unless the provincial and municipal governments take immediate steps to construct affordable housing, the number of homeless in Vancouver should rise from about 1,200 people in 2005 to nearly 3,200 people in 2010.
"Visible poverty and homelessness will be apparent throughout the city, as all shelters in Vancouver are currently operating at or near capacity," says the report.
"Without immediate action, the estimated 2.3 million visitors to the Games will see a city in the midst of an urban epidemic of poverty and witness the clear evidence of a broken commitment to address the impact of the Olympics," says Pivot.
"I agree almost everything in the report," said Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan. "I think some of the living conditions of our most vulnerable people, is a civic, provincial and national shame."
The projection of the number of homeless nearly tripling by 2010 is based on an analysis of the ongoing loss of existing low-income housing stock, rising rental rates and increased immigration, said David Eby, executive director of Pivot. "It is a conservative estimate," he said.
The provincial government is singled out in the report for a lack of commitment to constructing new housing for low-income people and for changes to welfare that have made it more difficult to receive social assistance.
The provincial shelter allowance of $325 per month and a living allowance of $185 for a single person on social assistance have not increased in B.C. since 1994.
More than 5000 people in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside live in aging and often decrepit single room occupancy hotels.
A survey of 114 of these hotels by Pivot this summer, found only one building that had a vacancy available at the rate of $325 provided by the province for shelter. As a result, most tenants are required to use part of their living allowance to pay rent.
The province made changes to the welfare eligibility rules in 2002 which require people applying for social assistance to have earned at least $7,000 in the previous two years. As well, income may be clawed back "dollar for dollar" for any reported income by someone on assistance, notes the report.
Many of the figures in the report are misleading, said Richard Chambers, a spokesman for the B.C. Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance.
He said there are exemptions to many of the rules for people with disabilities and those who are classified as "multiple barrier" applicants, who may have drug or alcohol problems.
People with disabilities or classified as a multiple barrier, may earn up to $500 per month without any clawback. The clawback is only on people receiving assistance who are classified as "expected to work," so they do not use welfare money to top up any part-time income, said Mr. Chambers.
Increased gentrification and conversion of housing units to other uses, resulted in a net loss of 415 units for low-income singles in Vancouver between 2003 and 2005, says Pivot.
In a report issued by city officials last year, it was projected that Vancouver needs a net increase of 800 units per year to meet the demand for low-cost supportive housing. A total of 270 units are scheduled to be constructed over the next three years.
If there is a commitment on the part of the city and the province to construct more low income housing, it could ultimately save taxpayers' money, suggests Pivot.
It cites provincial government data that it currently costs $40,000 per year to deal with a homeless person through hospital treatment, food aid, emergency shelter and sometimes being taken into custody by police. In contrast, the cost of someone in a social housing unit, including construction costs, would be $22,000 to $28,000 per year.
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