Two Rezoning applications for new low-barrier supportive housing developments are scheduled to be heard by Vancouver City Council at Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 14th at 6 pm. The two sites are located at
2518-2540 Grandview Highway South
1925 SE Marine
The low barrier supportive housing sites are Item 5 and Item 6 on the agenda, under the same MOU which was the basis of the rezoning application for 7th/8th and Arbutus.
We ask you to voice your objections for each site, as part of this Public Hearing process via written comment and/or by Speaking at the public hearing.
Written Comment (Deadline 5 pm 14th February 2023)
To provide a written comment visit the form for a public hearing feedback site. This will need to be done once for each site.
For each site complete as follows:
Click the link for the form.
For the “Subject” field enter:
5. CD-1 Rezoning: 2518-2540 Grandview Highway South.
Below that, mark the button “Oppose”.
You may also leave a short comment as to why you oppose it here. It will ask for your name and details, but only your name and neighbourhood (optional) are posted and you can use initials if you wish.
Click “Next” and it will show you your comments. Then click Submit.
Repeat the same form for the 2nd location.
6. CD-1 Rezoning: 1925 Southeast Marine Drive
Below that, mark the button “Oppose”.
Register to Speak (Deadline 5 pm 14th February 2023)
Go to the Form to Request to Speak.
You only need to register your opposition by clicking the button, next to the items you intend to speak to. In this case, click the boxes next to the items:
5. CD-1 Rezoning: 2518-2540 Grandview Highway South.
6. CD-1 Rezoning: 1925 Southeast Marine Drive
You will then be emailed confirmation, then in the coming days, you will receive an email of the phone number and dial in if you intend to call in. You can also register to attend in person should you wish.
Unlike 7th/8th and Arbutus, which is 20 meters from a 500 Child elementary school, next door to a successful Women's Supportive Recovery Center, these sites lie within residential neighborhoods. Like 7th/8th and Arbutus, these neighborhoods are without any addiction or mental health support facilities. We oppose these developments as proposed, as they are based on the same failed congregate housing model, with no onsite clinical supports, except a common-use drug room. These sites do not help those living within them, to move toward recovery and reintegration. They represent challenges to the surrounding neighborhood.
Recent media examples of the failure of these sites for their residents can be found in the story of Jamal Johnson.
We are also seeing more acknowledgment from the city and elected officials in the media and council, who are acknowledging the challenges these congregate housing sites present to the surrounding communities.
Kitsilano Coalition has been advocating for supportive housing to be inclusive for families with women and children, and a housing model that is focused on recovery Research and models can be found at https://somerspsych.com/solutions/ that empowers residents to a pathway to get their lives back.
We call for the end of this approach to housing across Vancouver and the Province and ask for a focus on recovery-oriented housing, which provides individuals with the highest chance of recovery and social integration.
Please voice your opposition to these rezonings as proposed and ask for better.
