Shelter and Housing for All

As Winter approaches and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact shelter space, it is crucial that shelter is ensured for all unhoused residents. 

The VDLC supports the efforts of the City of Vancouver, per the motion introduced by by Mayor Stewart and adopted by City Council this October, to take bold action to house Vancouver’s. While emergency shelter is urgently needed, permanent housing with all necessary wraparound services must be provided for all as quickly as possible. This will require the support of senior levels of government, but it long past due.  

At our December 2020 regular meeting, the following motion was adopted:

Subject: Shelter and Housing for All

BECAUSE shelter capacity in the City of Vancouver is currently down 30% due to physical distancing measures required due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and

BECAUSE there is an increased need for emergency shelter as a result of impacts of the pandemic; and

BECAUSE as we continue through the cold, wet Fall and Winter months the need to ensure shelter for all our residents becomes and increasingly urgent matter of public health and safety; and

BECAUSE housing is a human right,

THE VANCOUVER AND DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL WILL continue to support the City of Vancouver’s efforts to obtain, through lease or purchase, the necessary shelter space to accommodate all unhoused residents; and

THE VANCOUVER AND DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL WILL call upon the City, the Province, BC Housing, and relief agencies to work together to do all that is necessary to ensure shelter for all who need it, and to make every effort to transition all unhoused residents to appropriate permanent housing with the necessary wrap around services as soon as possible.