2010 Olympic Games and Homelessness

The $2.5 billion Olympic Games are just two years away. Vancouver will be inundated with visiting athletes, supporters, officials, spectators, and media personnel. Numerous events are being planned for whipping up the Olympic spirit locally and nationally in anticipation of the
arrival of our guests.

But what about our very own citizens, our neighbors and friends, who struggle daily with the reality of poverty and homelessness? What will the coming Olympics offer them?

The Olympic Bid promised them protection from the negative fallout of the Games, and a legacy of social housing. There was a commitment that people would not be displaced or rendered homeless because of the Games. The Inner City Inclusive Housing Table report put forward two dozen recommendations that would ensure affordable housing and increased income and support for residents living in poverty.

So far, things have not worked out well. The province purchased 10 SROs in the spring of last year in order to secure low-income housing, but much need renovations have not been undertaken and residents have been evicted or displaced in anticipation of the work. An agreement between the province and the City of Vancouver to build low-income housing on
12 city sites has been signed, but nothing concrete has materialized yet and is not likely to be realized before 2010. The Federal government has completely opted out of implementing a social housing strategy, despite its $14 billion surplus and a national crisis of
homelessness.

Meanwhile, the past year saw the loss of hundreds of low-income housing units in Vancouver, and in the past two months, five low-cost rental buildings in and around the Downtown Eastside closed or issued eviction notices, representing at least 180 units. These losses, combined with a vacancy rate of virtually zero for people on income assistance, mean increasing homelessness in the city. Best estimates put the street homeless between 1500 and 2000, with hundreds more staying in shelters (approx. 750 emergency shelter spaces) and an uncountable number couch surfing with family or friends.

As the coming Olympics drive up real estate prices and stimulates a development frenzy, the poor population of our region experience the dark side of this spectacle in the form of displacement, eviction and homelessness.

End Poverty and Homelessness … It’s not a Game!

~ Dave Diewert