Victoria council has endorsed four housing-related resolutions to be debated at the Union of B.C. Municipalities meeting in the city this fall.
They include calls for more housing of all types, funding for the creation of co-operative and non-market affordable housing, more supportive housing units and detox beds, as well as having housing declared a human right.
Victoria council also forwarded a resolution to have the UBCM research and investigate the costs and benefits of rent control on commercial property.
Coun. Susan Kim said there is a “real hunger for looking for commercial rent control or rent caps or some form of stability that can support our small businesses.”
Coun. Jeremy Caradonna said he was open to contemplating commercial rent control, but it was likely to be a complicated topic and it would help to have information about what might be possible.
“Most people would support an analysis and a report back, and then we can actually have some data and some information and a bit of modelling,” he said.
Coun. Chris Coleman agreed small business needs government help, but he argued municipalities already have levers that could make a bigger difference in a shorter period of time without upsetting landlords and property owners.
“If we want to protect small businesses, we could go to zero tax lifts and re-shift the apportionment between residents and commercial taxation,” he said.
The housing resolutions are being brought forward amid the ongoing homelessness and affordable housing crises.
One resolution calls on the UBCM to push the province to take urgent action to dramatically increase the supply of housing of all types across the housing spectrum and provide funding for the creation of cooperative and non-market affordable housing.
Coun. Dave Thompson said the affordable end of the housing spectrum needs the most attention.
A second resolution calls for the province to deliver more supportive rental housing ensuring each project has the proportionate number of detox beds and appropriate treatment facilities and virtual addiction care required for each community.
“Unsheltered homelessness is an untenable situation in B.C.,” said Coun. Krista Loughton. “The resulting social disorder has pushed past the breaking point.”
Loughton noted when the province put out housing targets in 2023 there were targets for supportive housing, but they didn’t include the proportionate number of detox and treatment facilities.
“Purpose-built supportive housing is essential, but it will not solve the issues on its own,” she said. “These facilities and treatment options must be created in line with the needs of people in each community.”
Council also endorsed having the province enshrine housing as a human right, which a number of other municipalities, including Saanich, Langford and Nanaimo have already done.
Kim said the declaration of housing as a human right would affirm no one can be discriminated against. She said it’s a symbol to let people know that you deserve to be housed no matter what your circumstances are.
All of the resolutions will now be sent to UBCM in September.
