OTHER CITIES: 
Housing (Updated)
It appears as though the homeless issue in Vancouver is coming to a sort of critical mass. Last month I told you about a new report by Pivot Legal Foundation called Cracks in the Foundation. This week The Tyee covers a new report by The Canadian Policy Research Network called Social Sustainability in Vancouver.
The Republic takes on Woodwards and Vision Vancouver's lack of vision on the issue.
A slick, new website called Stop Homelessness has popped up in time for homelessness awareness week, a week of photo ops and "cultural activities". Meanwhile Sam "I give prostitutes drugs out of the back of my van" Sullivan has put up a fun little survey on how to deal with Public Disorder, although no attempt is made to prevent the Fast and the Furious bridge and tunnel clones from shooting up nightclubs and racing their pimped-up G-rides down our streets.
And lastly, the Anti-Poverty Committee is holding nothing back as it prepares to occupy an undisclosed abandoned building to say "Buy it, or Guard it". A demo will take place at Pigeon Park on Sunday, October 22nd.
This column keeps growing, kind of like the number of homeless.
If the squat is too hardcore for you a forum called "Affordable Housing - Healthy Communities: Looking at Solutions to Vancouver's Affordable Housing Crisis", takes place at the West End Community Centre, 870 Denman Street, from 12 to 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 22.
Today's issue of The Only reported that the Liberals finally came up with some sort of housing plan after drastically slashing social spending during their first year. They came up with a subsidy akin to some spare change and pocket lint. For example, a family of three earning 10,000 will get $287 a month. I make $15,000 and I feel like I'm double-dutching with the poverty line. A family of three? How much is a 2 bedroom apartment? A wee bit more than $287 me thinks.
But you can't qualify for a subsidy if you don't have a child, you're on welfare, don't have a bank account, live in assisted housing, or are a recent immigrant. In other words, the people who need it most. You'd think it was the landlords that needed the subsidy the most, because that's whose getting it, 40 million of it.
On top of that, ex-real estate developer Rich Coleman announced that the Province would be building 450 units over the next 35 years, even though their own studies show that they need to build 3,000 a year! Thanks Richy Rich.
Tim Stevenson this week has called for a moratorium on evictions of low-income hotel residents. Call or email the mayor and councillors to let them know how you feel: mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca
I forgot to tell you about Raise The Rates, referring to Welfare rates. While on the site I found a game! A homeless game! Search for bottles, food, beg for change, get thrown out of coffee shops, have a shower in the church. Awesome.
Also, check out this website created by homeless people to give them a forum to tell their stories. Its called Homeless Nation and features podcasts, video, blogs, a forum, and a section on resources, including Vancouver.
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All this comes after months of headlines revealing case after case of 2010 budget overrruns. I hate to say to the 65% who voted yes, but I told you so. For example, the Southeast False Creek Athlete's Village was originally designed with 1/3rd middle-income housing. The NPA then slashed the requirement, claiming the project would lead to financial ruin. According to the NPA, COPE was "plundering" the city's $1.3 billion Property Endowment Fund, but new finance figures show that there is actually a 14.5 million dollar surplus. While COPE is calling for the NPA to use the surplus immediately for social housing, but instead, they are giving the developers a density bonus!
And they keep on building condos. Condo after condo with hip and sexy marketing that will sit empty because half of them are just investments. Which leads us to the threat of a housing bubble, which I know absolutely nothing about. Please see the wonderful Vancouver Housing market Blog.
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This post qualifies for GOLD STATUS in the left pantheon. No need to post anyhing else folks, Sean's covered all the keywords.