Housing

The following are the IOCC's recommendations to the Olympic Organizers and their partners about housing:

  1. Introduce SRO conversion and demolition regulations in the City of Vancouver. Low-income tenants in SRO hotels in the downtown core are vulnerable to Olympic related homelessness by the conversion of their homes to tourist use prior to and during the games. The City of Vancouver has the ability and is responsible to ensure that the 2010 Olympic Games do not increase homelessness in Vancouver and regulations need to be in place prior to the games to prevent this from happening.
  2. Prevent market driven displacement of tenants prior to the games. Prior to most hallmark events, many tenants are subject to substantial rent increases or eviction for minor cosmetic renovations. This displacement enables landlords to cash in on Olympic related temporary residents willing to pay inflated rents. The provincial government must maintain rent increase protection and close the loophole in the Residential Tenancy Act permitting eviction for cosmetic renovation.
  3. Create a meaningful Olympic housing legacy. A percentage of housing at the proposed Athletes Village will be converted to future affordable housing. Provincial housing programs were recently cancelled and the waitlist for available units continues to grow. The province should work with senior levels of government, the private sector and the community to create 2010 units of affordable housing around the province for low-income families, singles, seniors and people with disabilities prior the games taking place.