In December 2007, Vancouver City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Province of B.C. and the City to expedite the approval of up to 1,200 new social and supportive housing units on 12 city-owned sites.

Vancouver Memorandum of Understanding

In December 2007, Vancouver City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Province of B.C. and the City to expedite the municipal approval process for up to 1,200 new social and supportive housing units on 12 city-owned sites. Read the news release .

The Province will pay all the costs to design the new housing developments through to the issuing of development and building permits. These include fees for architects and consultants, permit fees, legal costs and survey and engineering costs. The Province will also issue a proposal call non-profit societies to manage and operate the housing developments.

The City of Vancouver will provide 12 sites for a period of 60 years. The non-profit operators will be charged a nominal fee for rent, and each development will exempt from property taxes as long as they provide subsidized social and supportive housing.

The majority of the 12 city-owned sites were identified as part of the city's Supportive Housing Strategy , approved by City Council in June 2007. This strategy focuses on providing more safe, secure and affordable housing plus support services in response to the current homelessness situation.

The new units will be social and supportive housing to accommodate the homeless and those at risk of homelessness who are living on the streets or in shelters, and those living in inadequate Single Room Occupancy hotels.

The provincial contribution to pay for the pre-development costs is part of a $41 million commitment to help break the cycle of homelessness that was announced on October 12, 2007. It built on the provincial housing strategy, Housing Matters BC , which was announced in October 2006.

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