TEAM URGES RESIDENTS TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST MOTION TO REVERSE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PAUSE

VANCOUVER (March 31, 2026) — Concerned Vancouver residents are calling on the public to take immediate action ahead of an upcoming Vancouver City Council meeting, where a motion brought forward by Rebecca Bligh seeks to reverse the current pause on net-new supportive housing projects.

The motion would undo a Council policy direction, which introduced a temporary pause on new supportive housing developments in order to reassess outcomes, prioritize replacing unsafe Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units, and encourage a more balanced regional approach across Metro Vancouver.

Residents opposing the motion argue that Vancouver already carries a disproportionate share of the region’s supportive housing and shelter spaces—despite representing only about a quarter of the population. Compassion should be regional, not concentrated into a few neighbourhoods in one city. The pause was not about cancelling supportive housing—it was about doing it better, more responsibly, and with accountability.

There have been longstanding challenges in areas like the Downtown Eastside, where decades of concentrated, low-barrier housing have failed to resolve complex issues such as addiction, mental health crises, and street disorder.

Housing alone is not sufficient without adequate clinical care, treatment options, and ongoing supports. Housing is important—but housing alone is not recovery. Without fixing systemic gaps in care, reversing this pause risks repeating the same approach and expecting different results.

TEAM is urging Council to maintain the current policy direction, which they describe as a balanced approach that supports vulnerable residents while also prioritizing neighbourhood safety, measurable outcomes, and shared responsibility across the region.

Call to Action

Members of the public are encouraged to make their voices heard by signing up to speak or submitting written comments to Council ahead of the meeting.

Deadline to sign up to speak is 5pm today (Tuesday Mar 31): Sign up below.

Vancouver City Council Meeting Agenda April 1 2026 https://council.vancouver.ca/20260401/pspc20260401ag.htm

Public participation is a critical part of the decision-making process, and residents are encouraged to share their perspectives on how Vancouver can best address housing, health, and community safety challenges in a fair and effective way.