Church groups want slumlord laws enforced

Randy Shore, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, April 01, 2008
VANCOUVER - A coalition of church groups is calling on city council to improve the lives of the poor and homeless by enforcing bylaws against slum landlords and halting implementation of the mayor's EcoDensity plan in the Downtown Eastside.

Mayor Sam Sullivan, bowing to public pressure from a group of church leaders, announced last week that churches will no longer be forced seek permits from the city for providing food and shelter to the homeless.

The group, Faith Communities Called to Solidarity With The Poor, hopes to capitalize on that success by putting forth its own agenda for change.

ITS FOUR SUGGESTIONS TO COUNCIL, RELEASED AT A NEWS CONFERENCE MONDAY, ARE TO:

- Enforce bylaws to ensure buildings are not dilapidated.

- Stop approving market housing and EcoDensity developments in the Downtown Eastside.

- Halt the conversion of single-occupancy rooms in the downtown into hostels and student housing.

- Immediately direct funds to build 3,200 units of social housing on city-owned land.

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