City Council Approves Vacancy Control for SRO’s

On November 17, Vancouver City Council approved vacancy control for Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotels. Vacancy control ties the rent to the unit rather than the tenant, thereby limiting increases that can occur between tenancies and removing the financial motive to evict residents.

This policy is an important step forward which will help improve housing security and protect SRO residents who may otherwise face homelessness, an outcome which is especially dangerous during the current COVID-19 pandemic and opioid poisoning crisis.

We recognize that SRO’s must be replaced with decent housing for all, with appropriate wrap around services. We support efforts to that end, but recognize the need to preserve the affordability of SRO housing for those who need it in the interim.

We thank the members of City Council who voted in favour of the motion to implement vacancy control in SRO’s, and we congratulate all of the organizations and activists who made this happen.