Fast tracking Housing in BC

[GordonH]

The concern I’m having with this could end up being absolutely nothing.
Here goes nothing if I am way out in the wrong field somewhere great, I thinking something along the the lines of the leaky Condo problem back in 90s or was that the late 80s. Just slapped together housing and apartment buildings etc... etc

[BC Landlord]

The concern I’m having with this could end up being absolutely nothing.
Here goes nothing if I am way out in the wrong field somewhere great, I thinking something along the the lines of the leaky Condo problem back in 90s or was that the late 80s. Just slapped together housing and apartment buildings etc... etc

Any social housing inevitably turns into slums.

[TylerM4]

Any social housing inevitably turns into slums.

Yeah, big lessons learnt from "The Projects" type initiatives done in eastern US.

Social housing can work when you keep the unit counts low and mix with regular housing. The problem from what I've seen is that it's artificial - the units initial sale price is artificially lowered, and once the 1st owners turn around and sell it's no longer at an affordable price. It turns into a home lottery for the poor vs a sustainable housing solution for low income families.

[fluffy]

Social housing can work when you keep the unit counts low and mix with regular housing. The problem from what I've seen is that it's artificial - the units initial sale price is artificially lowered, and once the 1st owners turn around and sell it's no longer at an affordable price. It turns into a home lottery for the poor vs a sustainable housing solution for low income families.

I agree. There are a number of social housing developments in Penticton that you wouldn't even know as such, well looked after and nice places. Almost exclusively the products of service clubs like Kinsmen or Knights of Columbus, they are light years from what some would call "slums". There is also a concept called "inclusionary housing" where development permits would only be issued for multi-unit projects if a certain percentage of those units meet "affordable" criteria. These types of arrangements also include measures to keep speculators and investor landlords out of the picture.

[the truth]

Any social housing inevitably turns into slums.

Yeah, big lessons learnt from "The Projects" type initiatives done in eastern US.

Social housing can work when you keep the unit counts low and mix with regular housing. The problem from what I've seen is that it's artificial - the units initial sale price is artificially lowered, and once the 1st owners turn around and sell it's no longer at an affordable price. It turns into a home lottery for the poor vs a sustainable housing solution for low income families.

i know of 3 cases personally where this has happened in kelowna , its a very real thing,

[BC Landlord]

Let's be honest, no one can solve any of these social problems, including housing, before addressing the addictions problem first.

[seewood]

Fast tracking housing ?

Chatted with my brother yesterday. While he was out walking his dog he stopped to chat with a contractor building a house in Squamish. Contactor mentioned the cost to build now is approaching $450 a square foot. The new earthquake and snow load standards, added to the energy efficiency guidelines have increased costs to build to where they are today.
This was a detached house .

Is this a similar cost to build towers with the massive engineering required, concrete, fire protection, water and sewer flows included?

So, the government wants who to fast track expensive housing?

[BC Landlord]

So, the government wants who to fast track expensive housing?

Tooth fairy

[fluffy]

Let's be honest, no one can solve any of these social problems, including housing, before addressing the addictions problem first.

Research and experience has shown that housing is an important first step in treating addictions. Without safe and stable housing chances of successful recovery are hugely diminished.

[BC Landlord]

Let's be honest, no one can solve any of these social problems, including housing, before addressing the addictions problem first.

Research and experience has shown that housing is an important first step in treating addictions. Without safe and stable housing chances of successful recovery are hugely diminished.

And that worked so well, right? You can find a "study/research" to "prove" just about any nonsense. No one is buying that leftist crap anymore.

[fluffy]

And that worked so well, right? You can find a "study/research" to "prove" just about any nonsense. No one is buying that leftist crap anymore.

If you can supply a link to studies that show otherwise, go right ahead. Simply pointing a craggy finger and hollering "leftist" proves nothing. Well, nothing relevant to the discussion.

https://www.islandcrisiscaresociety.ca/ ... se-issues/

https://www.samhsa.gov/homelessness-pro ... s-recovery

[BC Landlord]

If you can supply a link to studies that show otherwise, go right ahead.

I don't play such games. I can see things with my own eyes. Quit pretending that providing housing to these people quivering and *bleep* themselves behind dumpsters would be of any help. There is a good reason why some governments are shifting their policies away from enabling toward treatment.

[fluffy]

There is a good reason why some governments are shifting their policies away from enabling toward treatment.

But are they ? It looks to me like they are advancing policies on both housing and addictions, as they are two different issues. Nonetheless, housing is an essential first step in treating addictions where the issue overlaps with homelessness.

[DarbyD]

Let's be honest, no one can solve any of these social problems, including housing, before addressing the addictions problem first.

Research and experience has shown that housing is an important first step in treating addictions. Without safe and stable housing chances of successful recovery are hugely diminished.

Housing First works only if there are adequate health supports addressing the needs of the residents made available immediately when needed. Unfortunately this is not the case in Kelowna. Housing First was initially started in larger cities that already had supports available within the community. Smaller cities like Kelowna do not have the resources for on-site support or off site support that is needed for many of the health care needs that would be available in bigger cities. Right from the beginning it has been stated that for Housing First to work it needs wrap around supports including support to recover from the disease of addiction.

https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/4 ... sing-study
Many health needs unmet in Kelowna supportive housing: 2023 study
The study, published in the May 2023 edition of the BC Medical Journal, is anchored by interviews with 42 tenants and 30 staff members at three housing sites in the city.

It found that 72 per cent of tenants had unmet health needs, with those with developmental disabilities experiencing the highest rates.

Chronic disease, psychiatric and mental health and substance use disorder were the most common self reported health concerns.

In interviews with researchers, some tenants raised concerns about the amount of drug and alcohol use at supportive housing sites. Many tenants said they started using substances once they were housed, in close proximity to other users and open substance use.[/quote]

BC Medical Journal: Health care in supportive housing facilities: https://bcmj.org/articles/health-care-s ... facilities

[BC Landlord]

It looks to me like they are advancing policies on both housing and addictions, as they are two different issues. Nonetheless, housing is an essential first step in treating addictions where the issue overlaps with homelessness.

They are not different issues. Homelessness is the consequence of mental health issues (namely addictions), not the other way around. Therefore, as the root cause, the addiction should be addressed first. Of course, if you are choosing fixing problems over vanity.